The Straight Times

SHAH ALAM: Putrajaya must do all it can to ensure that the Malaysians in North Korea are brought home safely, said PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Azmin, who is also Selangor Menteri Besar, said as the safety of the Malaysians there is paramount, it is important for Putrajaya to determine the best way to do it and thread carefully, taking into consideration the escalating tension between the two countries at the moment.

“We do not want Putrajaya to act emotionally which may impact our Malaysian people there,” said Azmin today.

He was speaking after receiving a courtesy call from the Tainan City Government of Taiwan, led by its major Lai Ching-Te at the state secretariat building.

Azmin said he also hoped that the Home or Foreign Affairs Ministry will organise a session to brief MPs on the situation following PKR president Datuk Dr Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s request for an explanation in Parliament yesterday.

“We hope they will meet with MPs because we need to know what is happening and why actions were taken without organised planning. We need this to be explained soon and take firm action on this and it has to be a collective decision (made) by all the MPs,” said Azmin.

On Tuesday, North Korea announced that Malaysian citizens in the country would be barred from leaving.

In response, the Home Ministry had also prohibited North Korean diplomatic staff from exiting Malaysia.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had earlier said Malaysia will conduct negotiations with North Korea to secure the release of its 11 citizens, who are not held against their will.