‘Traumatised and paranoid’: Malaysians in New Zealand struggle after Christchurch terrorist attack

Three Malaysians are among the dozens of people wounded and a teenager from the Southeast Asian nation is still missing, while a 14-year-old Malaysian-New Zealander was one of the 50 killed

But while there is caution and anxiety among the community, the people of Christchurch and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have been commended for their sensitivity

Reading Time:3 minutes

Candles are placed to commemorate victims of the terror attack outside the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo: AP Photo

Published: 8:42pm, 18 Mar 2019Updated: 8:38am, 22 Mar 2019

As Christchurch comes to terms with the terror attack at two mosques that claimed 50 lives, Malaysians in New Zealand are still shocked and traumatised.

Three Malaysians are among the dozens of people wounded and a teenager from the Southeast Asian nation is still missing, according to the latest update from its foreign ministry.

Rahimi Ahmad, a 39-year-old father of two, was shot twice during the attack at the Al Noor Mosque. He underwent follow-up surgery to remove bullet fragments on Monday, according to Malaysian media.

The other two victims, Mohd Tarmizi Shuib and Muhammad Nazril Hisham Omar, are also being treated at Christchurch Hospital. The Malaysian foreign ministry confirmed on March 21 that Tarmizi’s 17-year-old son, Muhammad Haziq bin Mohd Tarmizi, who was missing after the attack, was killed in the shooting.

A group of men pray in Christchurch three days after a terror attack at two mosques that claimed the lives of 50 Muslim worshippers. Photo: AFP

In Otago, Malaysian student Halimizatun Ishak, 21, told the South China Morning Post her family was “really close” to the victims who were killed in the Friday shootings.