Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he has “no problems” with extraditing diplomat Muhammad Rizalman Ismail to New Zealand to face sexual assault charges if requested.
However, he said the fate of Muhammad Rizalman, who is defence staff assistant at the Wellington consultate, will be known “in the next few days” after talks with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.
“I have no problems with that (extradition), but need to discuss with Wisma Putra,” Hishammuddin said on Twitter.
He was responding to a Twitter user who urged him to send Rizalman back to New Zealand to face the charges.
Hishammuddin (right)also said that the Malaysian Army board of inquiry is investigating the case as Rizalman is attached to the Defence Ministry.
He said whether Rizalman faces charges in military court in Malaysia or in New Zealand, "justice will prevail".
“Under my leadership at the Defence Ministry, anyone who is in the wrong will not be above the law. Stern action will be taken without fear or favour,” he said.
NZ now says 'misunderstanding'
Hishammuddin's statement comes as New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully sought to defuse the tension by describing it as a “misunderstanding”.
McCully (below) clarified that the formal letter to the consulate may have clearly stated New Zealand's intention of wanting Rizalman's immunity lifted but matters were less clear in informal discussions.
"MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) has this evening provided me with the correspondence between New Zealand and Malaysian officials on this matter.
"While the formal request is absolutely unambiguous in seeking the lifting of immunity, it is now clear to me that officials engaged in informal communications over what is a complex case, in a manner that would have been ambiguous to the Malaysian Government.," he was quoted as saying bystuff.co.nz.
His remarks came shortly after speaking to Anifah this evening to clarify the "misunderstanding".
Rizalman was arrested by New Zealand police on May 9, after he followed a 21-year-old woman home and allegedly assaulted her, purportedly with the intention to commit rape.
He was charged on May 10 for burglary and assault with intent to commit rape, both of which carry a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.
He fled the country and reportedly invoked diplomatic immunity.
However, he said the fate of Muhammad Rizalman, who is defence staff assistant at the Wellington consultate, will be known “in the next few days” after talks with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman.
“I have no problems with that (extradition), but need to discuss with Wisma Putra,” Hishammuddin said on Twitter.
He was responding to a Twitter user who urged him to send Rizalman back to New Zealand to face the charges.Hishammuddin (right)also said that the Malaysian Army board of inquiry is investigating the case as Rizalman is attached to the Defence Ministry.
He said whether Rizalman faces charges in military court in Malaysia or in New Zealand, "justice will prevail".
“Under my leadership at the Defence Ministry, anyone who is in the wrong will not be above the law. Stern action will be taken without fear or favour,” he said.
NZ now says 'misunderstanding'
Hishammuddin's statement comes as New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully sought to defuse the tension by describing it as a “misunderstanding”.
McCully (below) clarified that the formal letter to the consulate may have clearly stated New Zealand's intention of wanting Rizalman's immunity lifted but matters were less clear in informal discussions.
"MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) has this evening provided me with the correspondence between New Zealand and Malaysian officials on this matter."While the formal request is absolutely unambiguous in seeking the lifting of immunity, it is now clear to me that officials engaged in informal communications over what is a complex case, in a manner that would have been ambiguous to the Malaysian Government.," he was quoted as saying bystuff.co.nz.
His remarks came shortly after speaking to Anifah this evening to clarify the "misunderstanding".
Rizalman was arrested by New Zealand police on May 9, after he followed a 21-year-old woman home and allegedly assaulted her, purportedly with the intention to commit rape.
He was charged on May 10 for burglary and assault with intent to commit rape, both of which carry a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.
He fled the country and reportedly invoked diplomatic immunity.
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