North Korea: Najib praises support shown by Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today praised the people who strongly supported the government's efforts in resolving the diplomatic crisis with North Korea.
He said the support from all Malaysians including the opposition demonstrated the strong unity among the people who did not play politics with regard to national interests and sovereignty.
"Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), after the conclusion of the negotiation process, all the Malaysians who were detained in North Korea have returned home to their respective families in their beloved country, Malaysia.
"Throughout the challenge that we were facing this time, just like the one we had faced previously, I had never doubted that we as a nation would be able to face it together," he said in his blog www.najibrazak.com titled "Di Sebalik Dugaan" or "Despite the Odds" today.
Early this morning, nine Malaysian nationals who were previously prohibited from leaving North Korea following the diplomatic dispute between Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang had arrived home.
Tension between Malaysia and North Korea cropped up following the killing of Kim Jong-Nam, the elder brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) on Feb 13.
Jong-Nam, 46, was killed using the nerve agent VX by two foreign women while waiting for a return flight to Macau at klia 2.
The Prime Minister said praise should also be given to government officials including negotiators, embassy officials, diplomats, health officials, the police and others who had given their best efforts behind the scene.
"Alhamdulillah, through their efforts, all the Malaysians whom we had negotiated for their return, had come home safely. That is most important.
"We will not leave anyone behind, and when I say 'we', I am confident that we are talking about all the 31 million Malaysian nationals," he said.
The diplomatic tiff arose when the North Korean Ambassador in Malaysia, Kang Chol made an unsubstantiated accusation against Malaysia regarding the way it was handling the case, which led to Malaysia declaring him persona non grata (PNG).
Kang Chol left Kuala Lumpur on March 6.
North Korea reciprocated by evicting the Malaysian Ambassador in Pyongyang.
On March 7, Pyongyang prohibited Malaysian nationals from leaving North Korea and Kuala Lumpur responded by taking a similar action against North Korean nationals from leaving this country.
The Prime Minister hoped the incident would become a catalyst for the Malaysian people to stand strongly behind the national flag, Jalur Gemilang.
"Give your support to our beloved country at all time – and not when the country is facing a problem only," he added. — Bernama