TANJONG KARANG: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has voiced support for Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's call for a review of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and North Korea, describing it as appropriate, as there are several grounds for the reconsideration.
"The statement by Zahid is timely and right. I believe this matter will be discussed in the cabinet meeting next week.
"Umno and Barisan Nasional Youth have submitted a memorandum of protest to the North Korean embassy. In it, Khairul Azwan Harun (Umno Youth deputy chief) had asked for the two-way relationship to be reviewed, especially from the aspect of their reaction towards the (investigation into the murder of) of Kim Jong-nam.
"We protest the way they have reacted towards the investigation that is being carried out by our police.
“Secondly, if a citizen of North Korea was involved in the murder, (we want to know) how the chemical, categorised as a weapon of mass destruction, was brought into Malaysia," said Khairy when met at the Himpunan Anak Muda Tanjong Karang event today.
On Friday, Zahid had instructed the Foreign Ministry to present to the cabinet an assessment of Malaysia's diplomatic ties with North Korea.
This came following negative remarks made by North Korean ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, who alleged that Malaysia had been “unprofessional” in the investigation of Jong-nam's death, the half-brother to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Meanwhile, Selangor Umno liaison committee chief Tan Sri Noh Omar said he is all for the re-examination of diplomatic ties between both countries, as North Korea had been disrespectful in its comments on Malaysian police's investigations.
"Our country has its own laws and ways of enforcement. This is the principle of other countries and North Korea must respect Malaysia's," said Noh, who is also Tanjong Karang MP.
Asked if he agrees with calls by certain quarters that the North Korean embassy in Malaysia should be shut down, Noh said the matter will be assessed.