Malaysia welcomes Nepal's proposal to expedite missing persons declaration

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — Relatives of the missing Malaysians have backed Nepal's initiative to shorten the legal timeframe for declaring missing persons dead in disaster situations, a move that could provide faster closure and enable families to settle inheritance and insurance matters.

The proposal would reduce the mandatory waiting period from the standard 12 months to 45 days, allowing authorities to formally declare individuals deceased sooner when circumstances of their disappearance point to death. The initiative addresses the practical hardships faced by bereaved families who must wait extended periods before they can access financial benefits and settle legal proceedings.

Nepal's government has indicated the accelerated declaration process would apply specifically to victims of the recent floods that devastated parts of the country, with the shortened timeframe justified by the catastrophic nature of the disaster and the low likelihood of survivors being found after such an extended period.

Malaysian authorities have been coordinating with Nepali counterparts on the matter, seeking to balance the need for thorough investigation with compassionate consideration for affected families. The proposal has been referred to relevant Nepali legal and administrative bodies for formal consideration and implementation.

The recent flooding in Nepal claimed numerous lives and displaced thousands of people across affected regions, with Malaysian citizens among those caught in the disaster.