Wrong of govt to protect Rizalman, says PKR MP

Zuraida Kamaruddin also tells New Zealand news portal diplomat is an embarrassment to Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: In an interview with The New Zealand Herald, PKR’s Zuraida Kamaruddin said she disagreed completely with the government of Malaysia for trying to sweep the criminal charges facing Muhammad Rizalman under the carpet.

In a report on their news portal, Zuraida who is MP for Ampang, told a New Zealand reporter, “Initially they were trying to conceal the case and they were trying to evade the allegation.

“The Malaysian authorities were trying to be hush-hush about the whole thing but then it was exposed.”

She also reiterated an earlier statement she claimed to have made pertaining to Rizalman being charged in New Zealand instead of being allowed to return to Malaysia.

“Wrong is wrong, no matter who you are. I made a statement saying he should be brought back to New Zealand jurisdiction instead of bringing him back to Kuala Lumpur … now they are honouring their word to take him back to face the case.”

She also had some harsh words for Rizalman himself saying he was “an embarrassment to his uniform and country” as he was comprising the country’s integrity.

She said, “”This is the first case in Malaysia where someone in uniform is charged with such conduct. It is something that reflects badly on the country’s integrity.”

Commenting about Rizalman’s wife and three children who have remained in Malaysia, Zuraida said she understood just how “humiliating” the entire episode must be for his family.

She added that the family kept to themselves once the criminal case against Rizalman broke in the media and implied that authorities did their best to keep them from “public view”.

Rizalman is alleged to have followed 21-year-old Tania Billingsley to her home on May 9 with the intent to rape her. Burglary charges have also been brought against him.

Soon after the incident, Rizalman was allowed to return to Malaysia after claiming diplomatic immunity and following a mix-up by New Zealand authorities.

However both sides came under heavy fire for their sloppy handling of the case and after months of red tape, Rizalman was successfully extradited to New Zealand where he appeared in the Wellington District Court Saturday to face criminal charges.

It is believed Rizalman is held on remand at the Rimutaka Prison with 100 other prisoners before his next appearance in court Tuesday.

President of the Corrections Association of New Zealand, Beven Hanlon said Rizalman would not be receiving any special treatment on account of his diplomatic status.