PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30 — The next of kin of Malaysians who have yet to be traced following the flash floods and landslides in Nepal have been asked to prepare to undergo a DNA test to assist in the identification process.
Sivakumar Kalimuthu, 57, who is still awaiting news of his wife, Kalai Mathe Karuppaiah, 57, said he and his family were told about the need for the test during a briefing session with the Foreign Ministry at Wisma Putra today.
"The police will contact us for the purpose of this DNA test, and I need to gather my three children for the test," he told the media.
Sivakumar added that the DNA test is among the preparations that need to be carried out following the discovery of several unidentified bodies in the disaster area, which had to be buried immediately due to the lack of suitable storage facilities at the location.
His three children are currently in Singapore, Langkawi, and Selangor, and all of them are still grieving but continue to hope that their mother will be found safe.
Recalling his last communication with his wife, a housewife, Sivakumar said he received a call from Kalai Mathe at about 11am on Tuesday (August 25).
"My wife informed me that she and a group of tourists from Malaysia totalling 17 people wanted to move into Kailash to pray, but after that there was no further communication," he said.
Sivakumar continues to pray for his wife's safety and hopes to be able to bring her back to the country.
Earlier, a closed briefing by the Foreign Ministry informed that the next of kin of Malaysians who have yet to be traced are encouraged to undergo a DNA test at the police contingent headquarters starting tomorrow after receiving an official notification.
The test will be used as a cross-reference to identify victims of the incident in Chitwan, Nepal.
