PM Anwar Proposes Formal Mechanism to Nepal PM to Assist Families of 55 Missing Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has proposed establishing a formal mechanism should the 55 Malaysians who went missing in the disaster in Nepal remain unaccounted for.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the measure was important to help the victims’ families manage legal, financial and administrative matters.

“This step is important to assist the affected families in managing matters related to legal, financial and administrative affairs.

“I will send an official letter to Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah to provide further details on this proposal,” he said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page today.

The matter was raised during his telephone conversation with Shah before departing for China this morning.

During the conversation, Anwar also conveyed the concerns of the victims’ families, who are still awaiting certainty over the fate of their loved ones.

He also expressed his sympathies to the government and people of Nepal over the devastating disaster that struck the country last month.

Anwar also expressed appreciation to the Nepalese authorities and rescue teams involved in the search operations.

According to him, Shah said conditions on the ground remained difficult, with the scale of destruction described as being similar to that caused by a tsunami.

However, Shah gave his assurance that search efforts would continue to the fullest extent possible.

“I hope all the efforts being undertaken will yield results and provide the answers that are so desperately awaited.

“Especially for the families of all 55 Malaysians who remain missing,” he added.

Astro AWANI