Goh Pei Pei
New Straits TimesMarch 8, 2017

KUCHING: A total of 140 North Korean citizens have been rounded up in Sarawak for not possessing valid documents.

Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg said they were nabbed yesterday when they failed to produce valid work permits.

“Their work permits had expired and they were overstaying in Sarawak. Most of them are working in construction projects,” he told a press conference at Wisma Bapa today.

However, there are 36 North Koreans working legally in the state.

“They have valid work permits and are still going to work as usual,” he said.

Abang Johari said Sarawak will decide on the status on the North Koreans after seeking advice from the Home and Foreign ministries.

“We will decide later,” he said.

The North Koreans, he said, were hired by local companies because of their expertise in certain sectors, and were working in Sri Aman, Bintulu and Lawas.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said a ban had been imposed on North Korean embassy officers and staff in Malaysia from leaving the country.