KUALA LUMPUR: The search for missing Malaysia Everest 2023 (ME2023) climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim will end on May 28.
Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Dr K Nagulendran said the search would have to end by that date due to the adverse weather conditions on the mountain.
"As the next window (to climb Mount Everest) is next year, we cannot extend the search date because we cannot negotiate with the weather.
"We would be putting more people in danger, and we have to respect nature, unfortunately," he said at a press conference at Dewan Rakyat today.
Asked on the likelihood of finding Hawari before Sunday, Nagulendran said he was hoping for the best.
"We are being very positive, and we hope that he is still safe somewhere.
"I do not like to speculate on the negative, I like to be positive. Let's pray together (for his safety)."
He also said the Malaysian government through the Youth and Sports Ministry had channelled RM1.48 million to the Altitude Exploration Club for the purpose of the search.
Wisma Putra undersecretary for the consular division Datuk Mohammad Ali Selamat said the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu had notified that the search area for Hawari had been expanded to the climbing route in Tibet.
"Operators along the route in Tibet have also been informed to help with locating Hawari," he added.
Hearing-impaired Hawari, 33, had reached the summit of Everest on May 18, at 3.30pm Nepal time, and arrived at Camp 4 (8,000 metres above sea level) about 1.30am.
The news of the incident was reported by Nepal's online media, The Himalayan Times.
Pioneer Adventure Pvt Ltd director Nivesh Karki said Hawari was reported missing on the morning of May 19 morning during a descent and rest at Camp Four.
He had allegedly left the tent at Camp 4 without the knowledge of the sherpas (mountain guides).
The search for Hawari was mobilised on the same day of his disappearance.
Altitude Exploration Club deputy president Murshid Maktar said six sherpas have been engaged to participate in the SAR for Hawari.
"There are also sherpas from other operators and also helicopters as well," he added.
Meanwhile, the expedition's Chef de mission Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor said the team of four climbers had trained for the climb for over four years.
He said they had climbed various mountains both locally and internationally and had made sure they had acclimatised to the high altitude before the climb.
"What happened is very unexpected. We do not know why he left the camp alone."
Salleh added that the search would be a challenging one not just because of the terrain and weather, but also because Hawari was a person with a disability.
"He cannot hear, and maybe he will not be able to shout. We would have to search for him only by sight, and this is even more difficult to do at night.
"It becomes even more difficult because there are many crevices on the mountain. You must only trek along a specific route," he added.
Meanwhile, the remains of Kedah Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) director Lt Col Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub had been safely brought back to the Everest Base Camp.
Nagulendran said his body would be brought by helicopter to Kathmandu for a post mortem before being flown back to Malaysia and Sabah, where he was originally from.
Awang Askandar, 56, died on May 20 after encountering health problems while at a height of 8,000 metres above sea level.