Dr Hilmi: VX nerve agent was never found in Malaysia before

PUTRAJAYA: The VX nerve agent found on Kim Jong-nam, who was murdered in Malaysia on Feb 13, was never found in Malaysia before, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.  

He said the VX nerve agent is a chemical weapon that could paralyse the nervous system and anyone in contact with it could die in half an hour due to breathing failure.

He said it was difficult to detect the nerve agent if brought into the country in small amounts.  

"This is the first time we are coming across VX. We have only known about it through reading," Dr Hilmi told reporters after opening a seminar on empowering Malay traditional medicine here Sunday.  

Last Friday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said that the chemical "Ethyl S-2-Diisopropylaminoethyl Methylphonothiolate" or VX nerve agent was used in Jong-nam's murder.

Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was at the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) on Feb 13 to board a flight to Macau when two women suddenly appeared before him and wiped his face with the palms of their hands which contained a poisonous liquid.  

Jong-nam sought help at a customer service counter at the airport and was rushed to the Hospital Putrajaya but died on the way.  

He came to Malaysia on Feb 6 and carried a passport bearing the name Kim Chol. - Bernama