Malaysian prime minister urges Nepal to formalise search for 55 missing citizens
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asked Nepalese leader Balendra Shah to create a formal mechanism for locating 55 Malaysians still missing after last month’s floods.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim raised the issue of 55 Malaysians who remain missing after the catastrophic floods that struck Nepal last month. In a conversation with Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Anwar conveyed the anguish of the victims' families and suggested establishing a formal mechanism to provide certainty for legal, financial and administrative needs. He announced plans to dispatch an official letter detailing this proposal.
Shah acknowledged the extreme difficulty of the situation, likening the devastation to a tsunami, yet confirmed that search operations are ongoing despite worsening conditions. Anwar also thanked Nepalese authorities and rescue personnel for their efforts. The Malaysian leader left for a three-day working visit to China shortly after the call.
Why it matters
The call seeks a coordinated response to locate missing citizens, easing the burden on families and strengthening bilateral disaster cooperation.
How this story developed
- Sep 1 Scientists Spot Early Glacier Warning Signs Before Nepal Flood Disaster
- Sep 2 A scientific review released new findings on pre‑event signals in the glacier collapse.
- Sep 14 UN assistant secretary‑general Kanni Wignaraja warned of expanding flood risk across the Himalayas.
- Sep 17 A new UN Environment Programme review labeled glacier melt an “immediate” climate risk.
In this story
Related stories
19 in this thread