Malaysia is a friendly nation and expects mutual respect from other countries, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Malaysia in no way wished to find faults in diplomatic ties with any country.
"But if there is any country which makes Malaysia the focus of their attacks, saying things like it had manipulated a murder, then Malaysia should review diplomatic ties with that country.
"In fact, Malaysia should send a clear message on its displeasure to that country," he told reporters after the opening of the first meeting of the fifth session of the 13th Parliament by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V today.
He was commenting on the government's decision last Saturday to expel North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol after the latter made wild and baseless claims about Kuala Lumpur in connection with the investigations into the murder Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2) on Feb 13.
Ahmad Zahid said a decision to expel an ambassador was rarely made except when the honour and sovereignty of the nation were threatened.
"I had said several times that we do not have a hidden agenda, and in fact the investigations into the case were conducted professionally. We have enough expert personnel to conduct the post-mortem and police investigations," he said.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said all decisions made by Malaysia were based on the law and North Korea must respect that.
He said other nations would make the same decision if there were parties which tried to interfere in matters affecting their honour and sovereignty.
"There is still room for diplomacy. There is still room for us to make sure that the foreign and the home ministries discuss it. Do whatever it takes but what is most important is that the people unite in defending our stand," he said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the murder case had affected diplomatic relations between Kuala Lumpur and Pyongyang and the ties would not be the same as before.
He added that the government's decision to expel the ambassador was in accordance with international and Malaysian laws.
Last Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman announced that the Malaysian government had declared Kang Chol a 'persona non grata' and gave him 48 hours to leave the country.
The term 'persona non grata' refers to the status given to a person who is unacceptable or unwelcome.
Prior to that, the Malaysian government had announced that effective March 6, North Korean citizens are required to apply for a visa to enter the country.
It was reported that Jong-nam was waiting for his flight to Macau at klia2 on Feb 13 when two women suddenly wiped his face with a liquid which was later identified as the VX nerve agent.
Jong-nam reportedly sought help at a customer service counter at the airport and was rushed to Putrajaya Hospital but died on the way.
He had used a passport bearing the name Kim Chol. - BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Mar 06 2017
Ahmad Zahid said a decision to expel an ambassador was rarely made except when the honour and sovereignty of the nation were threatened. - Filepic
FINAS taja caruman SKSPS bagi 4,500 penggiat seni selama setahun - Fahmi
FINAS akan menaja 4,500 penggiat seni tanah air di bawah SKSPS Perkeso dengan caruman RM23.30 bagi setiap orang, menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan tajaan bernilai RM104,850.
Gabungan golf dan bola sepak, footgolf sukan santai dan menyeronokkan
Footgolf menggabungkan dua sukan paling popular di dunia iaitu bola sepak dan golf, dengan kaki berfungsi sebagai kayu golf untuk menendang bola sepak saiz lima ke lubang yang ditetapkan.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Misi sekali lagi ditangguhkan, dijangka berlepas pada Jumaat
Ketika ini lokasi kapal memulakan pelayaran akan ditukarkan ke satu lokasi yang akan diumumkan dalam masa terdekat.
Pihak produksi masih terima Naim Daniel jika ubah fikiran
Ketua saluran Astro Ria, Norzeha Mohd Salleh memberitahu bahawa pihak produksi masih lagi memberi ruang kepada penyanyi tersebut untuk mempertimbangkan semula tawaran yang diberikan.
The Hardest Singing Show cabar kreativiti penyanyi tempatan
Program The Hardest Singing Show mencari satu juara yang mampu menyahut cabaran kreativiti luar limitasi.
Pekerja Ahli Parlimen EU disyaki jadi pengintip China
Polis Jerman telah menahan seorang pekerja ahli politik Parlimen Eropah Alternative for Germany (AfD) kerana disyaki menjadi pengintip China.
Amaran ribut hujan tahap tertinggi dikeluarkan di Guangdong, selatan China
Lebih 100,000 orang sudah dipindahkan akibat hujan lebat dan banjir yang boleh membawa maut di selatan China.
Jokowi dan anaknya bukan lagi ahli PDIP
Presiden Indonesia Joko Widodo atau Jokowi dan anaknya, bakal naib presiden Gibran Rakabuming Raka, bukan lagi ahli parti terbesar negara itu selepas mereka menyokong calon pesaing yang juga pemenang pilihan raya Prabowo Subianto.
Lima migran maut ketika cuba memasuki Perancis
Lima termasuk seorang kanak-kanak, maut dalam cubaan menyeberangi Selat Inggeris dari Perancis pada Selasa.
Polis New York lakukan penahanan himpunan lewat malam
Polis New York bertindak melakukan penahanan membabitkan peserta yang terlibat dalam himpunan solidariti terhadap Palestin di Universiti New York (NYU) pada lewat malam Isnin. Penahanan itu dibuat selepas mereka didakwa mengingkari arahan amaran pihak universiti untuk bersurai dan mengosongkan plaza yang menjadi tempat mereka berkumpul.
GiatMARA Bagan Datuk dinaik taraf sebagai Malaysia-China Institute
Pada peringkat awal, pusat itu akan melatih 2,000 tenaga TVET yang mendapat tajaan latihan ke negara berkenaan.
Tahun Baharu Tamil, Hari Vishu diharap bawa permulaan hidup harmoni - Ahmad Zahid
Ahmad Zahid berkata kedua-dua sambutan itu mempunyai keunikan budaya dan sejarahnya yang tersendiri.
RM57.15 juta untuk tingkat pengeluaran getah asli negara melalui Petara - Zahid
KKDW melalui RISDA memperuntukkan RM57.15 juta sebagai permulaan usaha meningkatkan pengeluaran hasil getah asli negara, melalui program Petara.
TPM, Jemaah Menteri ucap selamat menyambut Nuzul al-Quran
Ahmad Zahid berkata, al-Quran adalah petunjuk dan membimbing manusia ke arah kebaikan dan kebenaran serta meningkatkan keimanan.
KEDA perlu utamakan keberkesanan projek dilaksanakan - Ahmad Zahid
Peruntukan besar yang disalurkan kerajaan Persekutuan kepada Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah (KEDA) harus disusuli dengan keberhasilan dan keberkesanan projek yang dilaksanakan.
Stoking tertera kalimah Allah: Ahmad Zahid minta semua pihak patuhi titah Agong
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan isu tersebut harus diselesaikan dengan sebaiknya supaya tidak timbul sebarang permasalahan, apatah lagi dikaitkan dengan sentimen 3R.
Bukan UMNO runtuhkan Muafakat Nasional - Ahmad Zahid
Presiden UMNO Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hari ini menegaskan bahawa bukan parti itu yang meruntuhkan Muafakat Nasional (MN).
22 juta umat Islam belanja RM5.4 bilion di bazar Ramadan - Ahmad Zahid
Justeru, Ahmad Zahid mengingatkan kepada umat Islam agar bersederhana ketika berbelanja pada bulan puasa dan mengelak pembaziran.
Presiden UMNO adakan pertemuan tertutup bersama 14 ketua bahagian di Kelantan
Presiden UMNO Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hari ini mengadakan perjumpaan tertutup bersama 14 Ketua UMNO Bahagian Negeri Kelantan.
KEB: 74 resolusi, 150 program dimuktamadkan hari ini - Ahmad Zahid
Resolusi dan program itu, telah dirangkumkan di bawah Transformasi Ekonomi Bumiputera.