SEREMBAN, March 31 — Wisma Putra are ready to assist in coordinating and bringing back the remains of two Malaysian students who died in a road accident at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, yesterday.
However, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the arrangements will depend on the decision made by their families or next-of-kin.
“The arrangements to bring back the remains of the two students will depend on the decision of their families. If their family wants to go there (New Zealand) and bring back the bodies or they want us to bring them back, we will assist.
“I have already sent a WhatsApp message to my counterpart in New Zealand, and he has promised to assist in whatever help is needed. Tell them, InsyaAllah, everything can be done,” he told reporters after breaking his fast yesterday.
Mohamad added the hospital authorities in New Zealand will also do a post-mortem before their remains can be brought back. All matters related to the arrangements have been carried out by the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington.
He conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased students.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministry, via the High Commission, said it had been notified about the two Malaysian students who died in a car crash at 1.45pm local time.
In a statement yesterday, it said another three Malaysian students were also involved in the accident and were airlifted to the Christchurch Hospital for urgent medical treatment.
A High Commission spokesperson confirmed to Bernama that the two deceased students were Megat Ashman Aqif Megat Irman Jefni and Wan Nur Adlina Alisa, both studying at the University of Canterbury.
The three injured were identified as Nur Firas Wafiyyah and Lya Issable Walton, also from the University of Canterbury, while Muhamad Faris Mohd Fairusham is a student at the Victoria University of Wellington.
— Bernama
