SUMMARY

• Families of 55 Malaysians still unaccounted for after the Nepal floods are seeking government intervention and a special financial moratorium.
• Their missing status has complicated matters involving loans, bank accounts, assets, and insurance, while some families have lost their main breadwinners.
• Nepal has agreed to speed up the process of officially verifying the status of the 55 Malaysians.

Malaysia: Families of 55 Malaysians who remain unaccounted for following the devastating floods in Nepal are seeking government intervention as they struggle with mounting financial and legal issues.

According to Bernama, Malaysia Solidarity: Families in Hope (MASFIH) spokesperson Dr Manivannan Rethinam said on Sept 27 that the families were seeking a special moratorium covering financial commitments under the names of the missing individuals.

The request came 33 days after the Aug 26 disaster, with some of those missing being the main breadwinners for their families. Their unresolved status has made it difficult for relatives to access accounts and assets, deal with insurance coverage, or manage outstanding loans.

Loans and Insurance Become Major Concerns

Manivannan stressed that the proposed moratorium would apply specifically to commitments involving the 55 missing Malaysians, rather than all financial obligations belonging to their family members. Among the concerns are housing and vehicle loans, bank accounts, company interests, and life and travel insurance. Some families are also struggling to continue vehicle repayments and want to return the vehicles. However, the vehicles remain registered under the names of their missing relatives, creating further complications. The families hope temporary financial relief can help them cope while they wait for official documentation needed to resolve insurance claims, estate matters, and other financial affairs.

Families Seek Prime Minister’s Intervention

MASFIH also called for discussions involving Bank Negara Malaysia and the Attorney General’s Chambers to find ways to address the...