Nepal Committed In Efforts To Locate Malaysian Hiker - M'sian Foreign Ministry

PUTRAJAYA, April 21 (Bernama) -- Nepali authorities have given an assurance of their fullest cooperation in efforts to locate a Malaysian who went missing during a trek in Nepal on April 5. In a statement Tuesday, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said the ministry and the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu had been in close contact with Nepali authorities to assist in search and rescue (SAR) operations since businessman Dennis Lee Thian Poh was reported missing. "The ministry would like to convey its appreciation and gratitude towards the Nepalese Government in assisting the search and rescue operation," it said. Lee, 47, had joined eight colleagues from the Philippines to scale the Annapurna circuit in Nepal. The group only became aware of his disappearance at the Khopra Danda Track in the Ghorepani area – on the first day of their circuit climb. According to the statement, a reward of Nepalese Rupee 500,000 (US$4,955) was offered by Lee's family for information leading to locating him. -- BERNAMA