Ambassador Kang Chol, you’re way out of line
Malaysia has slammed the North Korean envoy for making baseless accusations over investigations into the assassination of Kim Jong-nam. The Government has assured the family of the deceased of their safety should they come here to identify the body.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian leaders have come out strongly against North Korea for alleging that the Government was politicising the murder investigation of Kim Jongnam and colluding with Pyongyang’s enemies.
“Diplomatically rude,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in reference to the claims made by North Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol.
On Monday, Kang Chol cast doubts on Malaysia’s investigations into the assassination, demanding that North Korea be allowed to take part in a joint probe.
Kang Chol said North Korea “cannot trust the investigation” by the Malaysian police.
Yesterday, Najib said Malaysia would remain resolute in getting to the bottom of the assassination as the killing was committed on the country’s soil.
“We are very objective. The statement by the ambassador was totally uncalled for,” he said.
“It is considered diplomatically rude on his part but Malaysia will stand firm.
“We will be guided by the principle of the rule of law,” Najib said at a press conference after opening the SL1M Central Zone Open Interview Programme 2017. He also launched the SL1M book and system here.
When asked if Putrajaya would rethink its relations with North Korea, Najib said Malaysia would take “one step at a time”.
He said both nations enjoyed good relations all this while, and as such, there was no reason to paint a “negative brush” over North Korea’s image.
Separately, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Kang Chol’s baseless accusations were unbefitting of his position as a diplomat.
“We view such accusations seriously. The Malaysian investigation is still under way and we have been very transparent.
“The ambassador cannot make baseless accusations against us.
“It is nothing short of shocking,” he told reporters after chairing a presidential council meeting yesterday.
Liow said the ambassador should understand that Malaysia was a sovereign state with its own laws.
“He should respect our laws. Malaysia and North Korea have had good diplomatic ties all this while.
“What he is doing threatens to destroy the bilateral relationship between our countries.
“We cannot allow such accusa- tions to continue. Wisma Putra has met him and given him a stern warning,” said Liow.
In Beijing, Malaysian ambassador to Pyongyang Mohamad Nizan Mohamad denied accusations from North Korea that the probe into Jong-nam’s death was politically tinged.
AP reported Mohamad Nizan as saying that the country’s investigators were proceeding in a professional manner and would “be very objective and fair to everybody”.
“I think the investigation is still ongoing, so just wait and see.
“And we can assure you of the impartiality of the investigation itself because there is no reason for us to take sides with anybody,” said Mohamad, who was in China’s capi- tal in transit to Malaysia as he had been recalled by Wisma Putra.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have strongly defended the country against the barrage of criticism by North Korean ambassador Kang Chol.
Taking to social media, many praised the police for the quick arrests of suspects.
Facebook user James Harding said that the crime was probably committed in Malaysia because the perpetrators thought that “our police are useless, but oh boy they’re so wrong”.
As for Marab Baram, she said the Malaysian police had the right to investigate the murder based on local laws since it happened on Malaysian soil.
“North Korea cannot interfere with the investigation,” Marab added.
Fatimah Jahan said she was “200% behind our Government on this matter”, adding that one should not give in to the bullying tactics of a “communist regime”.
John Doraisamy applauded the work of Malaysia’s Special Branch and considered it one of the best in the world.
“Their network is awesome.
“If they decide to investigate a case, you will be amazed how good they are and how fast they can solve a case,” he said.
Napsiah Wan Salleh felt that Kang “should be expelled from Malaysia for trying to undermine Malaysia’s sovereignty”.
David Tay was in favour of severing all diplomatic ties with North Korea.
“No need to waste our time with them,” he said, adding that they sent assassins to kill someone in Malaysia and “now they wanna act like a boss”.