Counsellor’s family prays for his safety
The family of counsellor at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain is worried for his safety and hopes for the safe return of all Malaysians in North Korea.
Azrin’s youngest sister, who declined to be named, said the only consolation was that the diplomatic officer had assured them everything was fine despite being barred from leaving the country.
“We are very concerned for the safety of my brother, his wife and their children. But, so far, he told us everything is okay.
“We are also able to contact them from time to time to check on them, so it gives us some sort of relief,” she told the New Straits
Times at their mother’s house in Kampung Raja Uda yesterday.
The sister, who is in her 20s, said the family had also performed doa selamat at the nearby mosque on Wednesday to pray for the Malaysians in Pyongyang.
She said her mother, Norhayati Hamid, who was at home, was not ready to face the media yet.
“She is fine and continues to go about her daily routine, like going to the mosque for religious activities.”
When asked about a media report that Azrin and his family had tried to leave North Korea with only their clothes, but were stopped by the authorities, Azrin’s sister denied it.
“It’s not true. That report that said they tried to run away ‘sehelai sepinggang’ made it sound like my brother was a refugee.”
Azrin, who is the eldest of three siblings, was among 11 Malaysians who were barred from leaving North Korea following strained diplomatic ties between Malaysia and North Korea.
He had been living in Pyongyang for three years with his wife Iza Karmila Ramli, and their three children aged between three and six — Annur Zulaikha, Annur Zhafirah and Ayscha Zinnirah.