Kim Jong-nam may be buried in Malaysia if no next-of-kin steps forward to claim his remains, Malaysia’s Deputy Health Minister Dr Hilmi Yahaya said today.

Dr Hilmi said there is no time limit on how long a body can be kept in a morgue, but the usual procedure, once a body is positively identified, is to “give it a burial”.

“We have yet to make any decision on the body, which is at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s forensic department.

“We cannot (be hasty on making) such a big decision. Give us time and we will announce our decision later,” he told reporters.

He was responding to a statement by Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar, who had said that Kim’s body may be surrendered to the Health Ministry at any time.