Respect UK's choice to leave European Union - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said the United Kingdom's (UK) choice to leave the European Union (EU) must be respected by all.

"The UK voters have spoken. As democrats, we must respect the result. We wish our British friends well in the new future they have chosen," he said in his latest status update in his Facebook following the result of the referendum in the UK today.

In the historic referendum on Thursday, 51.9 percent or 17,410,742 voters voted in favour of leaving while another 48.1 percent or 16,141,241 voters voted to remain in the EU.

The United Kingdom becomes the first member of 28 member states to leave the EU in its 60 years history.