Nepal seeks law change on death certificates for Malaysians

Nepal is pursuing legal changes to speed up death certificates for Malaysians still uncontactable after August’s floods. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said the change covers 54 people, Bernama reported.

He spoke to reporters in Melaka on Sunday, 18 October. Nepal’s current law can make families wait up to three years, he said.

Here is what he said, why the certificates matter to families, and where the search stands.

What Mohamad Hasan said on Nepal

Mohamad Hasan spoke after closing the National Solidarity Association (PerSoNa) conference in Melaka. He said Nepalese Embassy staff told him of the plan last week.

“The Nepalese government is pursuing the legal amendments and will table them to Parliament,” he said.

He added that Nepal has a fallback. “Failing that, it will make special arrangements to ensure death certificates can be issued without delay,” he said.

Berita RTM gave the same account in Malay. It said Nepal is working to table the amendment in Parliament.

The reports name no Nepalese official. They give no date for a vote.

Nepal floods: Why the certificates matter

Mohamad Hasan said Nepal’s existing laws can require a wait of up to three years. That wait comes before officials can issue death certificates for people unaccounted for after a disaster.

He said families need the certificates to deal with banks and insurers. RTM reported that the long process makes insurance claims and banking hard.

The reports do not say if any family has applied. They do not say how many of the 54 Nepal presumes dead.

They also skip the details of the special arrangements. Nor do they say if all 54 would qualify.

The Star carried the same Bernama report. It dated the speech Oct 17. Bernama says Sunday, 18 October.

Where the search stands

Floods and landslides hit Rasuwa district and the Nepal–Tibet border on 26 August after heavy rain, Bernama reported. Wisma Putra said on 29 August that 55 Malaysians were uncontactable.

The Foreign Ministry had earlier counted 57. The Vibes reported that officials had since reached two of them.

One more Malaysian who could not be reached came home safely on 2 October. That left 54 still out of contact.

In August, Nepal’s disaster agency said it had rescued 771 people, including 116 foreigners. Wisma Putra said none of the foreigners identified was Malaysian.

None of the reports we read gives a Malaysian death toll. They give no update on the search since August.

How Malaysia responded in August

The ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya has run day and night since 27 August. The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu worked with Nepal’s emergency team.

Wisma Putra also said 72 Malaysians in Darchen, China, were safe and well. The Embassy in Beijing helped those who had to leave Tibet.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia was ready to help Nepal. He offered money or rescue teams, The Vibes reported.

Wisma Putra’s Datuk Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin urged the public not to guess. He asked them not to share unverified claims.

The Vibes also reported that the King told Wisma Putra to act. He asked it to tell families how their relatives were doing.