17-Year-Old Malaysian Is Still Missing Four Days After Christchurch Terrorist Attack
His father, Mohd Tarmizi Shuib, is currently being treated for gunshot wounds.
Mohd Haziq Mohd Tarmizi, who went missing after the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, has still not been found
17-year-old Haziq is the son of Mohd Tarmizi Shuib, who is currently being treated for gunshot wounds at the Christchurch Hospital following the massacre at the Al Noor Mosque during Friday prayers on 15 March.
Tarmizi's other son, 12-year-old Mohd Haris, is undergoing treatment for trauma at a children's hospital in Christchurch, New Straits Times reported.
Since the attack, Malaysian representatives in Christchurch have been looking for Haziq at hospitals, as well as checking with the authorities and local communities
Tarmizi's sister Mariani told New Straits Times that, "Until now, I have not received any news on Haziq. I'm sure that the authorities in New Zealand are searching for him now."
She asked Malaysians to pray for her nephew's safety.
Penang Welfare, Caring Community, and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said that New Zealand police are seeking information on Haziq from his mother to assist the investigation
"Haziq's mother is with police to provide the correct name and pictures as some bodies have yet to be identified and there may be a need to carry out a DNA test before obtaining any statement from police," he said when contacted by Bernama News Channel.
"At the moment, we can only hope whoever have information on Haziq to contact us," he added.
While the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington is exhausting all efforts to locate the 17-year-old, a spokesman revealed that they could only do so much due to lack of manpower and legal limitations
Due to the country's Privacy Act 1993, the best hope was for an update from the New Zealand government, New Straits Times reported.
The New Zealand government will be releasing the names of the deceased by Wednesday, 20 March, after their family members have been contacted
New Zealand authorities have confirmed that 50 people died and 20 people were injured in the terrorist attack.
Aside from Tarmizi, there are two other Malaysians currently being treated for their injuries - 39-year-old Rahimi Ahmad from Penang and 46-year-old Mohd Nazril Hisham Omar from Kelantan, Malay Mail reported.