KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today confirmed that the identity of Kim Jong-nam was verified using DNA sample from the latter's son.
Zahid said the authorities had traveled abroad to an undisclosed country to collect the DNA sample.
He declined to reveal the name of the location or when the trip was made.
“The DNA sample was taken from his (Jong-nam's) son who is overseas. I cannot reveal (where). We went there," Zahid told reporters at the Parliament lobby here today.
Zahid yesterday said Jong-nam’s identity was confirmed based on DNA sample comparisons with one of the deceased’s children.
Zahid also said the government would seek the Attorney-General's advice on how to manage Jong-nam's body, after the deceased's family expressed their wish for the Malaysian government to take care of his remains.
“I will check the approval document that was given by the next-of-kin to Malaysia through the Foreign Ministry.
"The police will make a decision based on the request because the North Korean embassy (here) cannot ask for the body to be brought back (to North Korea) unless allowed by the next-of-kin," he said.