KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Everest 2023 climber Muhammad Hawari Hashim (pic) has gone missing while descending from Camp 4 after conquering the world's highest peak.
This was confirmed by expedition leader Azim Afif Ishak, who said a search operation is ongoing.
Muhammad Hawari, 33, who is hearing impaired, went missing while on his way down to Camp 3 after reaching the summit of Mount Everest.
Azim Afif said he last heard from the missing climber when he was at Camp 4.
Meanwhile, Nepal's English daily The Himalayan Times, quoting expedition operator Pioneer Adventure director Nivest Karki, said Hawari had been missing since Friday (May 19) and search efforts are still underway.
Hawari was among the first group to reach the summit, together with Kedah Civil Defence Force director, Lt Col Awang Askandar Ampuan Yaacub.
However, Awang Askandar, 56, died in the ascent just before reaching the summit of Mount Everest, which is 8,848m above sea level.
Meanwhile, another climber, Ayu Wanirah Naharuddin, 30, said the team was now trying to locate Muhammad Hawari using a chartered helicopter, adding Azim Afif and Pioneer Adventure sherpa, Ngaa Tenji were also looking for him along routes commonly used by climbers.
"With a helicopter, the search can be done in about 45 minutes and I hope Muhammad Hawari can be found immediately," she said.
Ayu Wanirah said Muhammad Hawari and a sherpa were resting at Camp 4 after successfully conquering the world's highest peak.
"I was told that the sherpa fell asleep for about an hour but on waking, Muhammad Hawari was not in the tent and he tried to look for him around Camp 4 but could not find him," she said.
According to her, eight sherpas were immediately hired to search Camp 1 to Camp 4 but the effort has yet to bear fruit.
Organised by Altitude Exploration Club, Malaysia Everest 2023 started the two-month mission to conquer the world's highest peak on April 2 with the support of the government and the Youth and Sports Ministry.
The mission also seeks to promote unity and build the Malaysian nation through ethnic diversity. – Bernama
