More than three years after Malaysian Everest climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim went missing near Mount Everest, the expedition team is now seeking an official death declaration from the Nepalese government.
The request is being made to help ease official matters for his family, including insurance claims, employment related matters and documentation.
Missing since 2023
Reported by Harian Metro, Muhammad Hawari was part of the Malaysia Everest 2023 expedition.
The Penang born climber, who was hearing impaired, had successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 19, 2023.
However, he was reported missing the following day while in the summit area.
At the time, Hawari was 33 years old and working at the Penang Museum.
Expedition team seeking official declaration
Malaysia Everest 2023 Chef de Mission Tan Sri Salleh Mohd Nor said the request had been conveyed to the Nepalese government through its representative in Malaysia.
He said the matter was raised with Mudita Bajracharya, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nepal in Malaysia.
According to Salleh, no official death declaration has been issued by the Nepalese government so far regarding Hawari’s disappearance.
He added that the Nepalese representative had agreed to assist with the request.
The next step, he said, is to send an official letter to the Nepalese government for consideration and further action.
Meant to help family with official matters
Salleh said the declaration is important to help Hawari’s family settle several matters.
This includes insurance claims, work related matters and other official documentation.
The update was shared during the Everest Day 2026 celebration, also known as Sagarmatha Diwas 2026, held in the capital.
Everest Day is observed every year on May 29 to commemorate the first successful ascent of Mount Everest.
Medical report submitted
Earlier, the Malaysia Everest 2023 team had submitted a medical report to the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal to support the application for Hawari’s death declaration.
The report was prepared by Mountain Medical Institute chief medical officer Dr Abhyu G.
It gave a professional opinion on Hawari’s status, based on medical and environmental factors on Mount Everest.
According to the report, the chances of surviving for a long period in the summit area are extremely slim.
This is because the area is located in what is known as the Death Zone, at an altitude of more than 8,000m, where oxygen levels are not enough to support human life for a prolonged period.
Climbers face extreme risks
The report also noted that even with supplemental oxygen, climbers still face serious risks.
These include severe hypoxia, extreme exhaustion, extremely cold temperatures and high altitude illnesses.
Among the conditions mentioned were High Altitude Cerebral Edema, also known as HACE, and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema, also known as HAPE.
30 Malaysians have conquered Everest
During the event, four national Everest climbers were also celebrated.
They included Malaysia’s first Everest climber, Datuk N Mohanadas Nagappan, who reached the summit in 1997, as well as Mohamad Asyraf Mohd Halim and Zainudin Lot from the Felda Everest Project 2013.
Azim Afif Ishak, who successfully conquered Everest in 2016, was also honoured.
So far, 30 Malaysians have successfully reached the summit of Everest.
The latest Malaysian to do so was Mohd Khafiz Bachok, 47, who reached the peak during the spring expedition on May 18.
In the same 2023 expedition involving Hawari, Kedah Civil Defence Force chief Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub, 55, was confirmed dead while receiving treatment at Camp 4, located about 8,000m above sea level.
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