PETALING JAYA: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has urged Wisma Putra to take all necessary measures to assist Malaysians affected by the floods in Nepal-China borders.
His Majesty also directed that the latest information on their safety and whereabouts be provided to their families.
“I have been following developments surrounding this tragedy since it was reported yesterday.
“I urge Wisma Putra to take all necessary measures, including providing family members with the latest information on the safety and whereabouts of the Malaysians involved,” said the King in a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page.
His Majesty also prayed that efforts to rescue and evacuate the affected Malaysians would proceed smoothly.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also ordered relevant government agencies to urgently locate and contact Malaysians affected by the floods.
“I have also instructed all departments, including the National Security Council and Foreign Ministry, to immediately identify those affected and contact our embassies in New Delhi and Kathmandu to speed up efforts to assist them,” he said at an event.
Earlier, Anwar expressed concern over the flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and said the government was working to locate Malaysians who remained unreachable.
Floods along the Nepal-China border on Wednesday were triggered by a glacial collapse along the Bhote Koshi River, sweeping away homes, vehicles and buildings, damaging communications and cutting off key roads linking the affected area to Kathmandu.
At a separate event, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Armed Forces was ready to assist in any humanitarian effort in Nepal, subject to the government’s decision.
“The Armed Forces are prepared to contribute its expertise and capabilities to peace-related missions for the Nepal floods.
Meanwhile, Wisma Putra said it had not received any official confirmation of Malaysian casualties following the floods in Rasuwa.
Fifty-five citizens registered with the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu were reported to be uncontactable.
The ministry said it had received information about them from family members, travel agencies and other relevant sources.
Severe disruptions to communication and electricity networks in the affected areas could be contributing to difficulties in establishing contact, it said.
The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu is also in close contact with Nepalese authorities, search and rescue teams, the Nepal Tourism Board and hospitals in Kathmandu to establish the safety and whereabouts of the Malaysians.
The ministry said it had strengthened its consular response by deploying an officer to assist the embassy in Kathmandu.
It also activated its operations room in Putrajaya to coordinate information and provide a direct communication channel for Malaysians in the affected areas and their families.
