PUTRAJAYA: The Nepalese government has agreed to help expedite the process of verifying the status of 55 Malaysians who remain unaccounted for following the devastating floods in the country, says Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil (pic).
He said the agreement was conveyed by Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a conversation between the two leaders.
Following this, Fahmi said the Prime Minister had instructed Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to hold further discussions with the Nepalese authorities immediately.
Fahmi said the discussions would cover legal aspects and court jurisdiction, Bernama reported.
The floods and debris flow tragedy on Aug 26, triggered by a glacial ice and rock collapse in the upper catchment area of the Lhende Khola in Tibet, has so far claimed 1,451 lives.
About 5,700 people, including more than 600 foreign nationals, remain missing.
During a press conference after the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Fahmi said several foreign leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing, are expected to visit Malaysia this month.
He said El-Sisi is expected to arrive on Oct 9, while several other foreign leaders are also scheduled to visit Malaysia, either on official, working or state visits.
“This includes the Myanmar President, who will hold discussions with the Prime Minister, as well as the Egyptian President, who is expected to arrive next Friday after the tabling of the Budget,” he said.
Fahmi said detailed information on the arrival and visit schedules would be issued by the Prime Minister’s Department, Prime Minister’s Office or Wisma Putra.
On another matter, Fahmi said 3,524 Myanmar refugees had been approved for repatriation under the second phase of the voluntary repatriation programme.
He said the government is awaiting notification from Myanmar on the date of the repatriation, which would be coordinated with the Home Ministry and Wisma Putra.
He said the first phase of the voluntary repatriation programme was successfully carried out on Tuesday, involving 1,476 Myanmar nationals.
“The individuals involved in the second phase were identified by the Myanmar authorities and their names were submitted to Malaysia through a diplomatic note dated Aug 13, 2026, via Wisma Putra,” he said.
Fahmi said Anwar would hold discussions with Myanmar in the near future to facilitate the return of more Myanmar refugees to their country.
On Tuesday, Malaysia implemented the first phase of the repatriation programme using three vessels, including a hospital ship belonging to the Myanmar Navy.
Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy and control) Datuk Makhzan Mahyuddin said those repatriated comprised 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and seven girls, aged between eight and 60.
On July 29, the Prime Minister said Myanmar had agreed to accept the return of about 5,000 Myanmar nationals detained in Malaysia following negotiations and strong bilateral ties between the two countries.
Fahmi had previously stressed that Malaysia would not repatriate any Myanmar refugees if they faced the risk of persecution or threats to their lives.
He said the government, through Wisma Putra, would first assess several factors, including security concerns, before any repatriation was carried out.
