2 M’sians allowed to leave
> Duo attending course in North Korea fly to Beijing, nine others remaining
KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians who were in North Korea have been allowed to leave Pyongyang, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
“Thank God. Two of our citizens under the World Food Programme, Stella Lim and Nyanaprakash Muniandy, were allowed to leave Pyongyang and have arrived in Beijing,” he tweeted yesterday.
There are nine Malaysians still in North Korea.
The two women were reported to have been undergoing a course related to the World Food Programme when Pyongyang announced on Tuesday that all Malaysians would be barred from leaving.
Najib said the North Korean government has said all Malaysian nationals in Pyongyang are safe and free to carry out their normal routine.
“We will deal with the (North Korean) government to try and find a solution without making any decision that could worsen the tensions. I believe that they too wish for a settlement.”
He said Malaysia would also extend similar courtesy to the North Koreans who are in Malaysia, Bernama reported.
Earlier, Najib made a telephone call from the Prime Minister’s office in Parliament House to counsellor Mohd Nor Azrin Md Zain at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang.
In his approximately twominute conversation, Najib inquired about the welfare of Malaysians there and told Mohd Nor Azrin to remain strong and resolute.
“All of us, the government and people of Malaysia, are praying for the well-being of Encik Azrin and his family. Hopefully, everyone will be safe,” he said.
Najib added that all mosques throughout the country had been instructed to hold “hajat” prayers for the conflict to be resolved soon.
Mohd Nor Azrin, his wife, Iza Karmila Ramli and their three children, Annur Zulaikha, Aynur Zhafirah and Ayscha Zinnirah are among the nine still in North Korea.