Most deaths of Nepalese workers in Malaysia due to cardiac arrest, says ambassador

The Nepal Embassy received 461 death reports of Nepalese workers here last year and 70 percent of them died in their sleep due to a massive heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest.
Nepal Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Niranjan Man Singh Basnyat (pic) said the cause may be due to working long hours, especially under the hot sun while the other 30 percent was due to fatal accidents at workplace, consuming too much alcoholic drinks while a few had committed suicide due to monetary reasons.

Basnyat, who was concerned with the hardworking attitude of his countrymen who are willing to work long hours, wanted them to slow down and take care of their health.
"They might not be aware that they would suffer from fatigue after working long hours under hot and humid conditions and this can result in deaths while sleeping," he said.
He said the embassy also recorded 2,945 deaths of Nepalese workers here over the past 10 years from 2005.
Basnyat said Nepalese workers are reportedly struggling hard to earn money, in the hope that they could remit some funds for their families or settle debts in their own country.
He hoped they will realise the importance of working for eight hours per day instead of the 12 hours per day they worked normally, to ensure they stayed healthy.