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18 April 2017
Sumisha NaiduVerified account @SumishaCNA 2 hours ago
296 North Koreans whose working permits have lapsed have turned themselves into the Immigration Dept. They will/ have been deported. pic.twitter.com/x23QkiLYYf
https://twitter.com/SumishaCNA/status/854290552971382784
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malaysiakini.comVerified account @malaysiakini 1 hour ago
Nearly 300 N Koreans surrender after overstaying
Malaysia said today 296 North Koreans had surrendered to authorities over the last week, as it enforces new visa requirements following a dispute over the murder of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader.
Malaysia revoked visa-free entry for North Koreans after the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the KL International Airport on Feb 13.
All of those who surrendered had over-stayed their visas, including 113 who had been on work permits and 183 on social visit passes, Malaysia’s Immigration Department said in a statement.
“All 296 North Koreans have or will leave Malaysia in stages,” the department said.
All had been in Sarawak, a Malaysian state in Borneo.
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12 April 2017
Which is true? Double speak?
(1) Immigration Department director-general Mustafar Ali told CNN today that authorities were now seeking the North Korean workers.
(2) Mustafar Ali said the workers were now given one week to turn themselves in, adding that his department knew of their whereabouts.
Sabah Maju Jaya @sabahmajujaya
117 North Koreans in #Malaysia given one week to leave https://goo.gl/fb/oiKFil #news #nation #coal #fmt #immigration
PETALING JAYA: Authorities are looking for 117 North Koreans in Malaysia whose work permits have expired, according to the Immigration Department, CNN reported today.
All of the 117 wanted by immigration are in the state of Sarawak.
It is the only state that employs North Korean workers, the country’s human resource minister said, according to Bernama.
Immigration Department director-general Mustafar Ali told CNN today that authorities were now seeking the North Korean workers.
North Koreans were temporarily barred from leaving Malaysia during a three-week diplomatic row with Pyongyang following the death of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Mustafar Ali said the workers were now given one week to turn themselves in, adding that his department knew of their whereabouts.
“We will definitely go after them as their work permits have expired, and thus they are considered illegal workers,” he said. “But first we would like to give them or their employers a week’s notice to voluntarily turn them in.”
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11 April 2017
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55 were deported…
Astro AWANIVerified account @501Awani 3 minutes ago
117 pekerja haram Korea Utara di Sarawak diminta serah diri kepada Imigresen
KUCHING: Seramai 117 orang pekerja Korea Utara di negeri ini yang permit kerja mereka telah tamat diberi tempoh seminggu daripada hari ini untuk menyerah diri kepada pihak Imigresen.
Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Imigresen, Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali berkata majikan mereka juga diberi notis satu minggu untuk menyerahkan pekerja mereka.
“Kita tahu di mana mereka berada daripada maklumat yang diterima. Kita akan mendapatkan mereka kerana permit kerja mereka sudah tamat dan oleh itu mereka dianggap sebagai pekerja haram.
“Namun pertama sekali kita akan memberi mereka atau majikan mereka notis satu minggu untuk secara sukarela menyerah mereka di bawah program pengampunan 3+1,” katanya kepada pemberita.
Beliau hadir pada majlis anugerah khidmat cemerlang dan surat penghargaan kepada anggota dan pegawai Imigresen oleh Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Mesir Kujat.
Mustafar berkata setiap pekerja haram itu akan dikompaun RM300 dan RM100 (bagi pas pulang).
Beliau berkata sekiranya pekerja dan majikan mereka bertegas untuk mengelak daripada Jabatan Imigresen, hukuman berat menanti mereka jika ditangkap kemudiannya.
Sejumlah 55 warga Korea Utara telah dihantar pulang baru-baru ini, katanya.
“Kita ada 35 orang lagi yang permit kerja mereka akan tamat bulan depan. Oleh kerana kita masih mempunyai hubungan diplomatik dengan Korea Utara, tidak ada sebab kita akan menghantar pulang mereka,” tambahnya.
Beliau berkata kebanyakan pekerja tersebut bekerja di lombong arang atau industri pembinaan.
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30 March 2017
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BorneoPost Online @theborneopost
Mystery of missing workers deepens
KUCHING: The 176 North Korean workers who were known to have entered the state to work at construction sites have all left their workplace and seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
The mystery of their whereabouts deepened yesterday when State Immigration director Ken Leben told The Borneo Post that technically they should all be still in the state as there are no record of them leaving.
The disclosure of the North Korean workers in the state has attracted great international interest but further attempts to find out more about their situation hit a brick wall when Ken said he could not disclose any further details on the issue.
He said he had received a directive from Putrajaya not to comment on the workers’ situation because of the fragile diplomatic relationship between Malaysia and North Korea.
On March 17, The Borneo Post team visited the construction site where a team of North Korean workers were working and found that they had all left seemingly in a great hurry as all their personal belongings, work clothes, tools, helmets and boots were left behind in the two makeshift rooms in an uncompleted building they used as their quarters but their stores were locked.
The project they were working on had stopped but yesterday when the team visited the same site they found that construction at the site had resumed but by local workers.
Intriguingly, all the belongings left behind by the North Koreans were still left untouched at their quarters.
During that visit, The Borneo Post interviewed an Iban worker who only preferred to be called Alec who said the North Korean workers had left.
“We used to see them working here. But, now we just don’t see them anymore. They just disappeared and we don’t know where they are.”
Alec said the North Korean workers were mostly middle-age men and seemed to be more than 40 years old. The rest were younger men between 20 and 30 years old.
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No, the Malaysian Government could not have expected this!
If North Korea refuses to let Malaysians leave, what can the Malaysian Government do? Tit for tat?
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Did you know this?
HELP University gives an Honorary Doctorate to Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea
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9 March 2017
FMT News @fmtoday 17 minutes ago
2 Malaysians allowed to leave North Korea
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KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians employed by the United Nations under its World Food Programme (WFP) have left North Korea for Beijing, according to a Reuters report.
The two were among 11 Malaysians barred from leaving the country amid mounting diplomatic tensions between Putrajaya and Pyongyang.
This comes as Malaysia is said to have softened its approach in dealing with the communist regime.
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8 March 2017
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The StarVerified account @staronline 20 minutes ago
Wednesday, 8 March 2017 | MYT 2:04 PM
Sarawak rounding up illegal North Koreans
KUCHING: Authorities in Sarawak are in the process of rounding up some 140 North Korean workers whose work permits have expired, said Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.
The Chief Minister said Sarawak was waiting for instructions from the Federal Government on deporting the illegal workers in view of the current diplomatic stand-off between Malaysia and North Korea, which has seen both countries banning each other’s citizens from leaving.
“As I said yesterday, we have about 170-plus North Koreans here. Some are illegal as their permits have expired. They are now being tackled by our Immigration Department.
“The question is whether we can deport them or not. Deportation has to be done because they are illegal but with the current diplomatic problem, we have to get clearance from the Federal Government,” he told reporters Wednesday at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
Abang Johari said those with expired permits mostly worked in construction and coal mining.
He added that there were another 36 North Koreans with valid permits who were still working in the state.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/03/08/sarawak-rounding-up-illegal-north-koreans/#efrVK6gvhuvrKGjb.99
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New Straits Times @NST_Online 7 hours ago
UN to facilitate repatriation of its two Malaysian staff in North Korea
KUALA LUMPUR: The United Nations will assist to smoothen the process of bringing out two of its staff, who are Malaysian citizens, from North Korea.
A UN source in New York told Bernama that the two women, who are in their 30s, were contacted as soon as the travel ban notice on Malaysians in North Korea issued by Pyongyang was reported by the international media.
“Both are safe. They are not officers or staff of the Malaysian Embassy.
“They are our staff (UN) who were sent to North Korea to attend a course related to the World Food Programme (WFP),” the source said.
She said the UN would send a representative to smoothen the process of taking the two women out soonest.
The two women are among 11 Malaysian citizens who are in North Korea, currently, besides three embassy staff and six family members.
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7 March 2017
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Family of Malaysian in North Korea in the dark
PETALING JAYA: A relative of an officer at the Malaysian embassy in North Korea, among the 11 Malaysians now barred from leaving the country, has expressed fears for the safety of Malaysians there.
The relative who wishes to remain anonymous said no one from the government had reached out to the family to provide updates.
She said the family used to get at least one message from the officer.
“But we haven’t heard anything in the past two days.
“All that is happening now is beyond our imagination. We hope the government will keep us updated.”
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New Straits Times @NST_Online 1 hour ago
IGP: We’re ready for five-year’ stake-out at N. Korea embassy
PENANG: Malaysia will wait to question suspects in the Kim Jong-Nam killing believed to be holed up in Kuala Lumpur’s North Korean embassy “even if it takes five years”, the country’s police chief said Tuesday.
A police cordon was set up outside the embassy after Pyongyang announced it would ban Malaysians from leaving North Korea, prompting an immediate tit-for-tat move from Kuala Lumpur.
The travel bans are just the latest twist in a heated diplomatic row over the Cold War-style assassination of the half-brother of North Korea’s leader in Malaysia last month, which has seen Kuala Lumpur expel Pyongyang’s envoy and vice-versa.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/218491/igp-were-ready-five-year-stake-out-n-korea-embassy
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New Straits Times @NST_Online 23 minutes ago
What ban? Malaysian in #NKorea unaware of ban on leaving country
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian woman residing in Pyongyang said she was unaware about the temporarily ban on Malaysians from leaving North Korea.
“Is that so. We did not receive any news about the ban,” was her immediate response when contacted by Bernama here today.
She declined to disclose her identity and said that she had no idea about the ban imposed by Pyongyang Tuesday.
International news agencies have splashed the news about the ban, which would take effect until the current ‘tension’ is resolved.
She said the Malaysian Ambassador to North Korea (Mohamad Nizan Mohamad) was not in Pyongyang at the moment as the latter was called back by the Malaysian government last month.
Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said 11 Malaysians in Pyongyang were safe.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/218441/what-ban-malaysian-n-korea-unaware-ban-leaving-country
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The forgotten 170?
Malay Mail Online
Fate of 170 N. Koreans in Sarawak rests on Putrajaya
KUCHING, March 7 — The Sarawak government is waiting for instructions from Putrajaya on how to deal with North Koreans working in the state.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg, there are 170 North Korean citizens working there.
“We are liaising with the Home Ministry and Foreign Ministry on what steps to take on the North Koreans,” he told reporters after officiating at a forum and workshop on forestry landscape here today.
He said the North Koreans are mostly working at a coal mine in Selantek, Sri Aman, while a few are engaged as hydroelectric project consultants.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had earlier instructed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to prevent all North Korean citizens here from leaving the country until the government is assured of the safety and security of Malaysians in North Korea.
The chief minister said all North Koreans working in Sarawak are accounted for, while where they are employed and by which companies are on record as their names were registered with the state government.
“The issues involving the North Koreans are very delicate so we have to wait for the instructions from the federal government on what steps we need to take,” he said.
Abang Johari declined to speculate whether some of the North Koreans are agents of their government to conduct surveillance on the state and federal governments.
“We cannot determine who are spies and who are not. We just don’t know so we leave the matter to the security personnel from the police to find out,” he said, stressing that many are genuine workers.
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New Straits Times @NST_Online 26 minutes ago
11 #Malaysians currently trapped in #NorthKorea, says #WismaPutra http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/218322/11-malaysians-currently-trapped-north-korea-says-wisma-putra …
A Wisma Putra source confirmed that there are currently 11 Malaysians in North Korea. Nine are at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang, while the remaining two are part of the World Food Programme.
“We are working to get the Malaysians to get out of North Korea. We cannot divulge too much information at the moment,” said the source.
The source said Wisma Putra was in the midst of reaching out to the family members of Malaysians currently in Pyongyang.
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New Straits Times @NST_Online 10 minutes ago
Malaysian embassy staff in #NKorea ‘sound frightened
KUALA LUMPUR: Attempts to obtain more details on the situation at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang proved difficult.
A person, presumably an embassy staff, who answered the call, sounded frightened and was hesitant to talk.
“I’m sorry. I’m not authorised to say anything at the moment,” said the woman, who also declined to reveal her identity.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/03/218327/malaysian-embassy-staff-n-korea-sound-frightened
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Malaysian @twitmsian 4 minutes ago
Star
Report: Emergency procedures taken at Malaysian Embassy in N. Korea
The Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang, North Korea. – Pix source: China Press
PETALING JAYA: Workers at the Malaysian Embassy in North Korea were reportedly seen burning documents and loading luggage into vehicles shortly after Pyongyang expelled Ambassador Mohamad Nizan Mohamad.
According to a Chinese media report, “emergency procedures” were initiated soon after North Korea made the announcement at around 6pm on Monday.
This came before state official media Korea Central News Agency reported that all Malaysian citizens have been banned from leaving North Korea, quoting the Foreign Ministry.
China’s CCTV 13 reported that the Jalur Gemilang and Asean flag in the embassy compound were lowered to half-mast on Tuesday morning, with three vehicles leaving the premises.
Pyongyang on Monday demanded that Mohamad Nizan, who had already returned to Malaysia on Feb 22, leave the country within 48 hours from 10am on Sunday.
The move was made in retaliation to North Korean ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol being declared persona non grata on March 4 and given 48 hours to leave the country after he failed to appear when summoned by Wisma Putra.
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TIT FOR TAT
Masidi Manjun @MasidiM 8 minutes ago
Tit4Tat: In response to North Korea‘s banning M’sians from leaving the country, Malaysia made similar order against North Koreans in M’sia
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⚡Vi Rai (ϑ ℛai)⚡️ @vrai777 3 minutes ago
North Korea bans Malaysians from leaving country as Kim Jong-nam crisis escalates https://goo.gl/fb/foCKH1 #northkorea #malaysia #kimjongun
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Astro AWANIVerified account @501Awani 21 minutes ago
#AWANInews [LATEST] Nine Malaysians believed to be in North Korea, three embassy staff and six family members: source – Bernama
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malaysiakini.comVerified account @malaysiakini
N Korea temporarily bans M’sians from leaving the country
North Korea said today it has temporarily banned Malaysians from leaving the country to ensure the safety of its diplomats and citizens in Malaysia amid an escalating row over the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-nam.
Its foreign ministry has notified the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang of the reason for the measure and said it had hoped the case would be swiftly and fairly resolved in order to develop bilateral ties with Malaysia, the North’s KCNA news agency reported.
– Reuters
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/374750?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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weehingthong 