An ongoing search and rescue mission for deaf climber Muhammad Hawari Hisham who disappeared after conquering Mount Everest last week will end on May 28, according to officials.
Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general K Nagulendran said the government today channelled RM1.48 million to the expedition organiser Altitude Exploration Club to assist in the mission launched following Hawari's disappearance on May 18.
"Mount Everest will be closed to all climbers on May 29 and so we only have until May 28. After that, everybody will have to come down.
"So this period is very crucial. The government feels we must go all out, particularly because Hawari (above) is a person with disabilities," Nagulendran told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.
Nagulendran, who expressed hope that Hawari will be found safe, said the mountain will only be reopened next year after the May 28 deadline.
"We cannot extend the date because we cannot negotiate with the weather. To do that will mean putting more people in danger.
"Unfortunately, we have to respect nature.
"We are being very positive, we hope he is still safe somewhere," he added.
Altitude Exploration Club deputy president Murshid Maktar explained that the closure order was also based on the weather forecast.
"Right now, it is the best time (for climbing) compared to other months in the year. So based on the weather forecast, the (good) weather will last until May 29.
"After that, the search and rescue mission completely shuts down," he said.
Murshid said the search and rescue team includes six sherpas - Nepal's ethnic tribe famed for their roles as Everest guides for climbers - as well as other professionals.
Efforts are being carried out on foot as well as through air surveillance via helicopter, but the latter has a limited reach of up to Everest Camp 3 at approximately 7,300m above sea level, he added.
Search area expanded
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry consular division secretary Mohammad Ali Selamat said the search has been expanded beyond Nepal to also include areas of Everest in Tibet.
"The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, has informed us that the search area has been increased.
"There are (search) operators in Tibet who have been informed to help find Hawari," he added.
On challenges faced in the search, Malaysia Everest 2023 chef de mission Salleh Mohd Nor cited all of nature's elements, including crevasses where a climber can hide in.
Salleh noted that Hawari cannot hear any call for his name nor can he shout for help, and so any hope to find him will rely on whether he can see the rescue team.
The Malaysia Everest 2023 expedition headed by former 2016 Everest climber Azim Afif Ishak started the mission to conquer the world’s highest peak on April 2 and it is due to end on June 2.
The expedition has the support of the government and the Youth and Sports Ministry. - Mkini
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