Registration with the e-Consular system remains voluntary for Malaysians abroad, with the government not planning to make it mandatory at this time, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
According to Bernama, he said Malaysians who live, travel or study overseas are encouraged to register through the digital platform managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help Malaysian embassies and diplomatic missions monitor their welfare.
“Not yet (making registration mandatory). We have not yet considered applying to the government to make it mandatory, but we hope that tourists and Malaysians abroad will use this facility.
“This e-Consular application makes it easier for embassies and diplomatic missions to know the whereabouts of our citizens, while also allowing us to contact them in case of any crisis, natural disaster or emergency,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut) on whether the government planned to make e-Consular registration mandatory.
Mohamad said the MyWorldAlert safety application, which is integrated with e-Consular, functions as a rapid communication system using GPS to deliver important information and alerts during emergencies.
On assistance for Malaysians stranded abroad, he said the ministry provides consular assistance including facilitating communication with family members and the process of savings or fundraising, but does not fully bear the financial burden.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said 54 Malaysians remained missing or unaccounted for following the flood tragedy in Nepal on Aug 26.
Although Nepal has halted search and rescue operations and moved to the recovery phase, he said Wisma Putra remained in contact with local police to check registration books at trekking route posts.
He added that Wisma Putra, together with agencies including the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Bank Negara Malaysia and the National Registration Department, was assisting the heirs with matters including applications for death certificates in Nepal.
