Nepal asked to issue death declaration for Malaysian climber Hawari missing since 2023 Everest summit

“KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — More than three years after Malaysian climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim disappeared on Mount Everest, organisers of the Malaysia Everest 2023 (ME 2023) expedition are urging the Nepalese government to officially declare him dead to help his family resolve legal and administrative matters. According to the New Straits Times , the request was raised with Nepal’s Charge d’Affaires in Malaysia, Mudita Bajracharya, to assist Hawari’s next of kin with insurance claims, employment-related matters and official documentation. Hawari, a hearing-impaired climber from Penang, successfully reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain on May 19, 2023, at the age of 33. He was reported missing the following day while descending from the summit area. Despite extensive search operations involving Sherpas, climbing teams and Nepalese authorities, no trace of him has ever been found. ME 2023 chef de mission Tan Sri Salleh Mohd Nor said Nepal had responded positively to the appeal. “During our meeting, the representative of the Nepalese government agreed to assist with the matter. The next step is to submit a formal letter to the authorities for their consideration and further action,” he told the national daily during the World Everest Day 2026 celebration in Kuala Lumpur. The expedition team had earlier submitted a medical report to the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal supporting an application for Hawari to be officially declared deceased. Prepared by Mountain Medical Institute chief medical officer Dr Abhyu G, the report said the likelihood of long-term survival in Everest’s summit region was extremely remote. It noted the area lies within the so-called “Death Zone” above 8,000m, where oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human life for prolonged periods. Even with supplemental oxygen, climbers face severe risks including hypoxia, extreme exhaustion, freezing temperatures and potentially fatal altitude-related illnesses. Mudita said Nepal was prepared to assist Hawari’s family. “On behalf of the Government of Nepal, we will provide the necessary cooperation and assistance for the welfare of all parties involved,” she said. Hawari’s disappearance cast a shadow over the ME 2023 expedition, which also saw the death of Kedah Malaysian Civil Defence Force director Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub after he successfully reached the summit.

Summary generated from the RSS feed of Malay Mail Education. All article rights belong to the original publisher. Click through to read the full piece on www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia.