Malaysia’s Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has been urged to conduct search operations on both sides of the Nepal-China border as it prepares to assist in ongoing rescue efforts following devastating floods and landslides in the region.
Families in Hope (Masfih), a Malaysian advocacy group representing relatives of those unaccounted for, called on authorities to secure permission for the rescue team to extend their search beyond Nepal into Chinese territory. Masfih spokesman Dr. R. Manivannan emphasized the likelihood that some of the 55 missing Malaysians involved in the disaster may have crossed the border, and narrowing the operation to only the Nepalese side could result in critical areas being overlooked.
“There is a strong possibility that some of the missing Malaysians may have crossed the border,” Manivannan stated. He stressed the urgency not only to locate potential survivors but also to recover and repatriate the remains of those who may have perished. Manivannan warned that delays in deploying the rescue team—projected to arrive at the affected areas on the eighth day following the disaster—could hinder both the preservation and identification of bodies.
Subramaniam Murugaya, a family member of one missing individual, supported the call for a bilateral search operation. He highlighted that the last known location of a Malaysian group, Spectrum Horizon, was near the immigration facilities at the Nepal-China border, making it uncertain if they had crossed into China.
Since the flash floods and landslides struck last Wednesday, all 55 Malaysians involved remain missing. Efforts are underway to expedite the recovery process. Manivannan disclosed that Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) has been coordinating with families, gathering DNA samples to facilitate identification. He added that Wisma Putra, with assistance from the country's Chemistry Department and police, is prioritizing these sample collections.
In an official capacity, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan confirmed having a phone discussion with Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal regarding the current state of search and rescue operations. Malaysia has formally requested permission from Nepal to deploy the SMART team to augment ongoing SAR efforts on the ground.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as rescue teams prepare to intensify their operations, aiming to leave no area unchecked in the critical search for survivors and missing persons along this remote and hazardous border region.