Opposition proposes special briefing in Parliament on N. Korea

KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition yesterday proposed to the Dewan Rakyat that a special briefing be held for members of parliament on the situation relating to the diplomatic breakdown between Malaysia and North Korea.

Opposition leader Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the briefing would give MPs a deeper insight into the issue.

“The foreign minister and government agencies can brief the MPs,” she said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address at Parliament.

Dr Wan Azizah said with a proper explanation on Malaysia’s stand, the MPs would refrain from making statements that could jeopardise the government’s process to resolve the diplomatic rift.

“We need to protect the good name of Malaysia.”

Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) said the government should take action against netizens who belittled the country when making comparisons between Malaysia and North Korea.

“In social media, there are people who have portrayed Malaysia to be inferior in strength to North Korea,” he said.

Shamsul Anuar said the House should move a motion for MPs to voice their views and state their stand on the issue.

He said the government had considered all aspects before deciding to expel the North Korean ambassador here and prohibit North Koreans from leaving Malaysia.

“We have to be together in this. It is not about the interests of political parties, but to uphold the dignity of our country.”

Meanwhile, Parti Amanah Negara’s Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad urged the government to resolve the issue with wisdom and patience.

“We need to emphasise diplomacy and not act as a hero as this can risk jeopardising the safety of Malaysians trapped in North Korea,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Raja Kamarul also called on the government to seek the help of another country to be an intermediary to resolve the conflict.