‘SUPPORT GOVT’S EFFORT TO BRING MALAYSIANS HOME’
If we are united, foreign enemies cannot destroy us, says Najib
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak called upon all citizens of the country to unite and support efforts to bring the remaining nine Malaysian citizens home from North Korea.
Najib said the strength of a country could be measured by the unity of its people when faced with crises or external threats.
“While the government is continuing efforts to bring home Malaysians banned from leaving North Korea, I want to urge all Malaysians, including government and opposition leaders, to unite and give full support to all efforts that are being made to solve this problem.
“If we are united in facing any problem or threat, foreign enemies would not be able to destroy what we have built over the years,” he said in an audio message on his blog, najibrazak.com.
He added that it was not the first time Malaysia was faced with difficult situations involving foreign relations, citing the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the downing of MH17 and Lahad Datu intrusion.
Najib said such crises proved that Malaysia had extensive experience in handling complicated issues related to foreign powers, adding that the country had always maintained good relations with all nations.
“InsyaAllah (God willing), we will again be given guidance by Allah the Almighty, to ensure the safe return of our Malaysians in North Korea and unravel the questions concerning the murder (of the North Korean man) that happened on our soil.
“Malaysia has always maintained a good relationship with other countries.
“However, this does not mean that anybody can exploit the Malaysian hospitality and break the laws in our country at their whims and fancy, in total disregard of Malaysia as a sovereign country,” he added.
The Foreign Ministry said 11 Malaysians were in North Korea — nine embassy staff and their family members and two who worked for the United Nations World Food Programme.
The two UN volunteers, Stella Lim and Nyanaprakash Muniandy, were allowed to leave Pyongyang on Thursday. Both are now in Beijing, China.
Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and North Korea soured following the high-profile murder of Kim Jong-nam at klia2 on Feb 13.
In Putrajaya, Najib yesterday joined a congregation of over 8,000 at Masjid Putra here to perform solat hajat to pray for the safety and wellbeing of Malaysia, which is now in a tense diplomatic spat with North Korea.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
The prayers, which followed the Friday prayers, were led by Masjid Putra Grand Imam Datuk Abd Manaf Mat.
On Thursday, Najib called on all mosques in the country to hold
solat hajat for the safety of Malaysians in North Korea.