SHERPAS on Mount Everest will continue the search for Muhammad Hawari Hashim, the hearing-impaired climber from Malaysia Everest 2023 (ME2023), who has been missing since May 19, in the next climbing season.

Nivesh Karki, 35, said his company in Nepal has assured that they would continue the search, along with 20 other mountain guide companies, from April until May next year.

He said out of a sense of duty, he came to Malaysia to meet Hawari’s mother, Che Tom Hassan, 64, adding that he wanted to fulfil the promise he made to her to find her son.

“We will continue the search for Hawari because he was part of our family. For us, the mission – although challenging – is not impossible because there are instances where bodies of climbers who had been missing since 1942 were found intact in 2019.

“We just need to look for any signs or traces left by the climber. Our company is also offering a reward to mountain guides who successfully locate him,” he told reporters in George Town, Penang today.

Nivesh, the director of Pioneer Adventure and a freelance photographer, Bidhan Shrestha, were flown from Nepal by Hawari’s employer, the Penang State Museum Board (LMNPP). LMNPP hosted the “Ascent: Journey with The Malaysian Everest Expedition 2023” programme at the State Art Gallery, today.

Also present were Che Tom and her family – including Hawari’s wife Saffiyah Tang Xie Lie, 34, and children Hana Sakeena, 4, and Haris Sufian, 2

Nivesh and Bidhan, who were directly involved in the search mission, shared their experiences with the guests, which were translated to Malay by an interpreter and conveyed using sign language for Saffiyah and the children – who are also deaf.

Che Tom, who was seen crying throughout the video screening of her son’s Everest journey, expressed relief with Nivesh’s assurance.

“As a mother, I want to see my son’s remains because as long as I don’t see his body before me, I will continue to wonder about his whereabouts,” she said when met after the programme.

Che Tom said she would look at the orange jacket that Hawari wore during the expedition every day to cope with the feeling of longing for her son.

“The jacket was brought home from Nepal and Hawari’s wife hangs it at home. When I look at it, I feel as if I see him wearing it,” she said.

Meanwhile, Saffiyah said she works as a part-time clerk at the Social Welfare Department in Seberang Perai Utara.

She said Hana Sakeena would cry every night as she missed her father and was confused as to why he was not home.

“It is time for us to move on. We hope that his remains can be found, at least she will know that her father has passed away,” she added.

Hawari went missing after leaving the Fourth Camp at 8,000m above sea level. It was reported that a day before he managed to conquer the world’s highest peak.

The search and rescue mission was forced to continue next year because the special search permit using drones and aerial search approved by Nepali authorities had expired. – Bernama, December 14, 2023.