THE Penang government today announced an allocation of RM500,000 that will be channelled to the search and rescue (SAR) operation for Malaysian climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim, 33, who was reported missing on Mount Everest.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the decision was made during today’s state executive council meeting.
“The RM500,000 allocation will be given to the Kelab Explorasi Altitud (ATC) to fund the SAR operation.
“ATC club is in charge of the Malaysia Everest 2023 (ME2023) programme, in which Muhammad Hawari, who hails from Penang, is one of the participants.
“For now, we will do our best to channel any necessary assistance to the ATC to ensure the SAR efforts can be carried out smoothly,” Chow told Buletin Mutiara when he visited Muhammad Hawari’s family at their house at Kampung Permatang Kerai Besar in Tasek Gelugor today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Chow’s political secretary Teh Lai Heng and state Museum and Art Gallery director Haryany Mohamad.
Muhammad Hawari, who has been working at the Penang State Museum for over 10 years, was reported missing on Friday (May 19) while making his descent from the summit of Mount Everest.
During the visit, Chow also updated Muhammad Hawari’s family on the latest SAR operation.
Chow also informed that Haryany would be in charge to provide any latest update on the SAR operation to the family.
Chow, together with Yeoh, also presented an RM5,000 mock cheque each to Hawari’s family.
The cheque was received by Muhammad Hawari’s wife Safiyyah Tang Xie Li.
Chow added that apart from the RM500,000 assistance, the state government has contacted the Malaysia Embassy in Nepal, Wisma Putra and Home Ministry to learn more about the situation.
“We also had a Google Meet session yesterday (May 23) with the mission head Azim Afif Ishak to get the latest update on the SAR effort.
“The state government is in the process of contacting the Malaysian Space Agency (Mysa) to assist in the SAR operation by using a satellite.
“We are helping in any way possible,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix and video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad