Media personnel gather outside the morgue at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, where the body of Kim Jong-nam is held for autopsy February 17, 2017. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — A local journalist expressed both admiration and embarrassment after witnessing Japanese counterparts tidying up outside Hospital Kuala Lumpur where media outlets had camped out to cover the killing of Kim Jong-nam.

Amirul Saji, a reporter with national news agency Bernama, said he witnessed the Japanese reporters picking up rubbish after 2am on February 15, when other journalists had dispersed when it became apparent that there were no more updates on the case.

“As I was packing up, I noticed only the Japanese group appeared to still be staying on they seemed to be searching for something while holding plastic bags I thought they were looking for a lost colleague, but it turned out they were picking up rubbish from where the media gathered,” he wrote on Facebook.

“I was so embarrassed. Outsiders helping to pick up rubbish and what stunned me even more was that they then took the waste along with them when they left in their taxis. I have no idea where they brought it to. Their discipline is very incredible!”

Amirul stressed that he was not fawning over foreigners with his post, but simply saluting their culture and discipline while in another country.

He also clarified that he was not saying that local media had littered the area, and simply highlighting an attitude that should be emulated.

“Maybe we Malaysians can follow their practice, make it an example. Who knows, we might surpass the Japanese in terms of cleanliness.”

Reporters, both foreign and local, had congregated outside the hospital following news that Kim Jong-nam had been assassinated at the KLIA2 on February 13.