KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 ― The prime minister today called for Malaysians to unite in the face of a diplomatic row with North Korea that has left several citizens stranded there.
Datuk Seri Najib Razak pointed out that the strength of a nation is measured by the unity of its citizens when faced with a crisis or external threats.
“If we unite when we face any problems or threats, external foes will not be able to destroy all that we have built all these while.
“At a time the government is continuing efforts to bring back Malaysians that are currently blocked by North Korea, I wish to propose to all Malaysians including government and opposition leaders to unite to give full support towards all efforts that are being taken to solve this problem,” he said in a speech uploaded on his official blog.
On Tuesday, North Korea declared a temporary ban to stop Malaysians there from leaving the country as both countries' ties deteriorated due to a row over the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother Kim Jong-nam here.
Malaysia confirmed then that the 11 Malaysians there were unharmed, and two of those stranded were yesterday reported to have been allowed to leave North Korea.
Najib noted that this was not the first time Malaysia had faced such moments involving foreign relations, adding that the crises of Flight MH370, the Flight MH17 crash and the Sulu intrusion of Sabah's Lahad Datu had proved that Malaysia has the experience to deal with such complex issues.
Expressing hope that Malaysia would have divine guidance to secure the safe return of the remaining nine Malaysians in North Korea and to resolve the murder here, Najib went on to describe Malaysia's friendly stance.
“Malaysia always maintains good relations with all countries. However this does not mean that any of them can abuse the good treatment that Malaysia has given all these while and to break our countries' laws or to do as they wish without respecting Malaysia as a sovereign nation,” he said.
North Korea's failure to apologise over its accusations against Malaysia over the Jong-nam murder investigation led to Malaysia's expelling of North Korea's ambassador.
Shortly after its ambassador left Malaysia, North Korea declared on Monday that Malaysia's ambassador ― who had already returned to Malaysia after being recalled ― is persona non grata and effectively barred from re-entering the country.
It subsequently escalated into a travel ban by North Korea, which Malaysia reciprocated with a similar ban to block North Koreans here from leaving the country.
