KUALA LUMPUR – A single, centrally coordinated financial relief framework is urgently needed to shield families of 54 missing Malaysians from mounting debts and administrative red tape following the catastrophic Nepal flash floods and landslides, an advocacy group urged today.
Marking Day 39 of the tragedy, Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MASFIH) welcomed Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) initial willingness to support affected next of kin, but insisted families should not be forced to deal with individual banks and insurers on a case-by-case basis.
MASFIH spokesperson Manivannan Rethinam stressed that families already enduring intense emotional grief must not face financial harassment or compounding liabilities while search and legal statuses remain unresolved.
“Given the unprecedented nature of this tragedy, we respectfully believe the next step should be a BNM-driven, centrally coordinated framework, rather than requiring 54 families to navigate different banks, insurers and financial institutions individually,” Manivannan said.
“Most importantly, the next of kin must not become the second victims of this tragedy.”
Temporary moratorium sought
The group is seeking an immediate, interest-free repayment moratorium or deferment on liabilities registered in the names of missing persons.
MASFIH clarified that the relief should cover housing loans, vehicle financing, personal loans, credit facilities, and overdrafts tied to the missing individuals, but explicitly noted it is not requesting deferments for the personal debts of surviving family members.
To streamline handling of assets, MASFIH also urged the central bank to establish a unified mechanism to identify, preserve, and administer bank accounts, EPF savings, ASNB holdings, insurance policies, e-wallets, and business equity held by the missing victims.
“Families should not be expected to independently identify every bank, financial institution, investment platform, insurer, takaful operator or other provider with which a missing person may have an account, investment, policy or financial interest,” Manivannan added.
“We are not asking for debts to be written off. We are asking for breathing space, clarity, protection of their loved ones’ assets, and a fair and humane mechanism while the legal status of their loved ones remains unresolved.”
High-level inter-agency talks requested
MASFIH has requested an urgent meeting with BNM officials early next week and called for representatives from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to join the session.
According to the group, AGC involvement is vital to resolve legal ambiguities surrounding next-of-kin authority, estate preservation, and statutory definitions of missing persons.
The group also renewed its appeal for a direct audience with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, stating that formal requests submitted since the early days of the tragedy have yet to receive a response.
“On Day 39, these families continue to live between hope and uncertainty, while financial commitments do not stop,” Manivannan stressed. “Behind every account, policy and liability is a family waiting for a loved one to come home.”
Meanwhile, one of the 55 Malaysians initially reported missing in Nepal made a safe return to Malaysia yesterday morning.
The individual successfully reached the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu independently before flying back to Kuala Lumpur.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed the individual’s safe arrival in a notice to next of kin, though the person’s identity remains undisclosed. – October 3, 2026