Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said it is a "good proposal" to allow the two North Korean suspects in the murder of Kim Jong-nam to leave Malaysia, in return for the release of the nine Malaysians in North Korea.

"I don't know whether North Korea has asked to exchange the Malaysian citizens with the suspects because negotiations are by the foreign ministry.

"But if it is true, that proposal is good because it can ensure the safety of Malaysians in North Korea. The safety of Malaysians in North Korea is more important," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.