by Theleaders | October 5, 2026 4:04 pm
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — The government does not yet intend to make registration on the e-Consular system mandatory for Malaysians abroad, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said registration through the digital platform managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains voluntary, but Malaysians residing, travelling or studying abroad are highly encouraged to register to facilitate monitoring and welfare matters.
“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 replying to a supplementary question from Khairil Nizam Khirudin (PN-Jerantut), who wanted to know whether the government plans to make registration on the e-Consular system mandatory.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) asked about the government’s measures to tighten the registration system for Malaysians travelling or residing abroad to ensure they can be detected and assisted promptly in the event of a tragedy, disaster or emergency.
Commenting on the MyWorldAlert safety application, which is now integrated with e-Consular, Mohamad said it functions as a rapid communication system based on the Global Positioning System (GPS), capable of delivering important information and alerts immediately during urgent situations.
Meanwhile, in response to a supplementary question from Sh Mohmed Puzi regarding assistance in bringing back citizens stranded abroad, he said the ministry provides consular assistance in terms of family communication and facilitating the process of savings or fundraising.
“We provide various forms of assistance, but we do not fully bear the financial burden. However, cases like pilgrims stranded in Jeddah and Madinah due to being cheated by unauthorised agents who only bought one-way tickets without return tickets, we still help manage (this),” he said.
Commenting on the developments of the flood tragedy in Nepal that occurred on Aug 26, Mohamad said that 54 Malaysians are still categorised as missing or unaccounted for.
“Although the Nepalese government has halted search and rescue (SAR) operations and shifted to the recovery phase, we have not given up and are still in contact with local police to check the registration books at every trekking route post,” he also said.
He added that Wisma Putra, along with various agencies including the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Bank Negara Malaysia and the National Registration Department, is facilitating the affairs of the heirs, especially concerning applications for the release of death certificates with the relevant ministries in Nepal
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