WELLINGTON Malaysian Students’ Organisation (WMSO) said Malaysian students in the New Zealand’s capital city are not concerned with returning home at the moment, despite the one-month compulsory lockdown to contain the spread of the Covid-19.

The lockdown began on March 26.

“As for now, we think it is not necessary (arrangement to bring Malaysian students home) as New Zealand’s cases are not at a critical level.

“None of them is concerned about going home for now,” said WMSO president Zarif Rizlan Mohd Nazri in WhatsApp reply to Bernama.

The Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) student at Victoria University of Wellington said there are currently 120 Malaysian students in various universities in Wellington.

Zarif said the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington has instructed a student representative from each university in New Zealand to give an update on their members every alternate day.

“They have also said if there are any concerns, we should let the embassy know as soon as possible,” he said.

New Zealand’s Health director-general Ashley Bloomfield yesterday said the country recorded its first Covid-19 and the number of people infected with the virus rose by 63 cases to 514.

Bloomfield was reported to have said the woman who died was in her 70s and was initially diagnosed with influenza.

Meanwhile, Canterbury Malaysian Students’ Association (CMSA) said they are working closely with the high commission to ensure all Malaysian students are registered on the list so that assistance can be given if any expected or unforeseen event occurs.

It advised Malaysian students who are members of CMSA to avoid travelling out of their residential area to prevent unnecessary contact with other people outside of their isolation circle.

“As the Prime Minister (of New Zealand) has mentioned, there is no need for panic-buying since supermarkets are considered essential services and will be open throughout the lockdown period,” said CMSA in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Malaysian students facing difficulties during the lockdown in New Zealand should contact CMSA via its Facebook page.

“If any of them contract the virus, they should inform CMSA at the first instance so that we can keep the high commission and university informed,” it added. – Bernama, March 30, 2020.