PETALING JAYA: For families of Malaysians still unaccounted for in the Nepal floods, hope remains the one thing they are holding on to.
But after a week without news, some of them are confronting the painful reality that the chances of survival are getting slimmer as the days pass.
Subramaniam Murugaya, a Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope spokesperson, said he was hoping for a miracle but he was also coming to terms with the reality after a week of being in the dark on the whereabouts of his father-in-law Krishnan Vadivelu.
“We are hopeful but it will be a miracle if they are found alive at this point,” he said.
He said that several families, who had been notified to provide their DNA samples, would be doing so at police stations nearest to them.
Dr Manivannan Rethinam, another spokesperson of the group, confirmed that Wisma Putra had started calling up families of the missing for the DNA samples.
In the latest development yesterday, at least two family members of the missing Malaysians have provided DNA samples to assist with identification in the event recoveries are made in the coming days.
According to the group, which comprises loved ones of the missing people, Malaysia makes up the third highest number of foreign nationals who remain unaccounted for with 55 missing, after India (183) and the United States (64).
“We are still very hopeful. We believe in miracles.”
His younger sister Komathi, 48, is among those whose whereabouts remained unknown.
“To date, not a single Malaysian has been found. This is causing us much concern.”
He said it is crucial for family members to have closure, or else the situation could escalate and cause more heartbreak if the individuals are officially declared missing.
“There are legal complications that may arise as a result of this.
“What if the missing person is the sole breadwinner of a family and their assets become immovable due to this?
“This is why we hope the Nepal government would consent to having our SMART team to assist in the search-and-rescue operations for our missing family members,” he said.
