KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 22): Only a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of Malaysians travelling abroad annually register with the Foreign Ministry through its eKonsular application, making it harder to track them down in times of crisis. 

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told Parliament on Thursday that only 6,000 people registered in 2025.

He urged travellers to register with the ministry, especially those undertaking high-risk activities like mountain climbing.

“When something happens, only then people rush to press the government, asking what to do or how to contact them.” he added.

Mohamad said the application used minimal information.

“Just update it in eKonsular...with a name, general location and a contactable number so that if anything happens, e-Counsellor becomes a data centre for the Foreign Ministry to contact Malaysians,” he said.

Mohamad was responding to questions on the status of 54 Malaysians still unaccounted for after the floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Aug 26.

The disaster, caused by a melting glacier, left 5,285 people missing, including 636 foreigners from 34 countries.

Last-known phone location pings and logs indicated the missing Malaysians were near a base station in the path of the mud and rock tsunami.

To assist families with financial, banking, and insurance matters, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim intervened with his Nepalese counterpart to expedite official documentation, while also raising disaster relief and regional cooperation with the Chinese premier during his official visit to China in late September.

Under Nepal’s general Civil Code, it can take up to 12 years to certify an unaccounted person as missing or dead after a disaster.

“Our prime minister requested that an executive order or ordinance be made by the prime minister of Nepal, which was agreed upon...under this executive order, Nepal can shorten the process of issuing a missing or death certificate from 12 years to 45 days,” Mohamad said.

The Foreign Ministry and the Attorney General's Chambers are reviewing the draft ordinance to ensure it covers insurance, banking and estate needs.

A one-stop centre involving Bank Negara Malaysia and the National Registration Department has also been set up to support families.

Mohamad, who is also known as Tok Mat or Mat Hasan, said the shared crisis had brought the two governments closer.

“There is no damage to diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Nepal…in fact, our relationship is now even closer because we have been in direct contact,” Mohamad said, adding that over 300,000 Nepalese workers contribute to Malaysia's security and service sectors.

Malaysia’s embassy in Kathmandu remains in contact with local authorities and trekking checkpoints to track any new developments.

For more Parliament stories, click here.