KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must use every diplomatic channel available to widen the search for Malaysians still missing after the devastating Nepal-Tibet border floods, says a family representative group.
The group – Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (Masfih), which is representing 49 missing Malaysians – further called for a single, reliable and regular communication channel between the authorities and families.
Masfih spokesman Manivannan Rethinam said daily official updates should be given on the whereabouts of the 49 Malaysians and that Wisma Putra, the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu, as well as the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing, should provide a mechanism for this.
He said the updates should include the latest status of missing Malaysians, areas where search and rescue operations are conducted, developments from the Nepalese and Chinese authorities as well as the number of persons located, rescued or accounted for.
“While information may sometimes be limited or still subject to verification, even an update stating there is no new confirmed information provides families with reassurance that the matter is actively being monitored and pursued,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.
Manivannan’s sister – Komathi Rethinam, 48 – is among those who remain missing.
The 49 Malaysians which Masfih is representing comprise 23 Malaysians from the Leaf Holiday group; nine Malaysians from the Dream Tibet Travel & Tours group; and 17 Malaysians from the Fishtail Tours & Travel group.
Manivannan also called for the appointment of dedicated liaison officers to communicate directly with Masfih-appointed representatives.
This, he said, allows official information to be effectively disseminated to affected families.
“It significantly reduces the burden on individual family members having to repeatedly contact different agencies seeking information.”
Masfih, he said, respectfully urges the government to use all available diplomatic channels to obtain approval for the deployment of Malaysian search and rescue teams and relevant agencies to assist in the search for missing Malaysians.
He also said the last known locations of these groups were within the Rasuwagadhi Nepal-Tibet border area, including locations on both the Nepal side and the Tibet/China side of the border.
Manivannan stressed the need for the government to engage Chinese officials as the last known movements of the group may have been near the Chinese immigration or customs areas; caught in the flood while crossing the border; or had already crossed immigration and were en route to Gyirong/Kerung.
According to him, Masfih has also identified a significant discrepancy concerning the official records as nine Malaysians did not appear to have been included in the missing-person information in the Nepal Tourism Board update on Aug 26.
“We respectfully request the Malaysian government to raise this discrepancy with the Nepalese authorities and seek an immediate verification and reconciliation of the official missing-person records.”
