THE kindness shown by people in the wake of last Friday’s Christchurch mosque shootings has been a blessing, said Penang welfare and caring society exco Phee Boon Poh.

He has been in Christchurch on a humanitarian mission with Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Aziz since last weekend.

They accompanied the mother and brother of Rahimi Ahmad on a state-sponsored flight to New Zealand.

Rahimi was shot in the terror attack that killed 50 people and wounded dozens of others.

Apart from Rahimi from Penang, another two Malaysians were also shot in the attack. The teenage son of one of the two is still missing.

Phee said the Penang government decided immediately on Friday to fly Rahimi’s family to Christchurch to be with him.

“We had little time. Everything had to be rushed to get things in order so we could leave on Saturday. We did the best we could,” he told The Malaysian Insight last night.

Phee said they were all well taken care of at the airports due to the circumstances.

He said that even at Singapore’s Changi, where they took their connecting flight to Christchurch, the airport did everything to facilitate them.

“We were driven in buggies to the lounge to rest, and then given rides again when we were to board the plane.

“The air stewardesses onboard were also specially notified to assist us with whatever we needed.”

When the plane arrived in Christchurch, the airport there had its representatives waiting at the door of the plane to guide Phee’s party through immigration and customs.

“They also made sure we had direct transport to the hospital. Of course, diplomats from the Malaysian high commission were also waiting for us.

“Everything was so good. We were well taken care of.”

Phee said as their trip was planned at the last minute, Azrul had trouble finding a place to stay, until a Malaysian motel owner bent over backwards to put him up at his place.

“His motel was fully booked. But due to the circumstances, the owner cancelled a booking to accommodate Azrul.

“I had no problems. I am staying with my son. Rahimi’s mother and brother are staying at his house.”

Phee said despite how everyone was in shock – including the New Zealand authorities – help was rendered to everyone who needed it in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The New Zealand government, he said, had announced that the families of those of were killed would not have to bear the full cost of the funeral expenses, regardless of their immigration status.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had reportedly announced that families would be eligible for a funeral grant of around NZ$10,000 (RM28,000) under the Accident Compensation Corporation, or ACC, which covers all citizens and visitors under a no-fault scheme if they’re injured in an accident.

The ACC provides financial compensation to help with the cost of recovering from an accident, including payment towards treatment.

Phee said Malaysians based in Christchurch, like those in the Canterbury Malaysian Society Inc, were also mobilised to help.

He said four meetings had been held between the Malaysian community and the diplomats on how to assist the victims and their families.

“There are about 1,000 Malaysians in Christchurch who are registered with the High Commission. There are also 200 Malaysian students studying here, who have been helping, like offering to drive us around.

“We are so blessed. The help extended made our work easy,” said Phee, who is returning to Malaysia tomorrow.

Azrul also dismissed talk that the Malaysian authorities had not assisted the victims’ families, saying that diplomats from the high commission were often in contact with them.

“Today, the high commissioner Nur Izzah Wong Mee Choo handed over aid from anonymous donors to the three families.

“Wisma Putra has also sent financial aid, although there were some technical issues with account numbers.

“There should not be an issue about Wisma Putra not helping them,” he said in a voice message on his WhatsApp chat group with the media yesterday evening. – March 19, 2019.