The former defence staff assistant of the Malaysian High Commission in New Zealand who has been accused of burglary and attempted rape, is still undergoing treatment in hospital and will not be extradited soon .

Armed Forces chief Gen Zulkifeli Mohd Zin (right) in confirming the matter said the personnel was still getting psychiatric treatment at a hospital and would only be extradited when he was ready.

"At the moment he is still in the hospital," he told reporters after presenting Hari Raya goodies to the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-1 in the United Nations Interim Force (Unifil) in Lebanon today.

The contributions in the form of clothing and food were presented by Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri.

Zulkifeli was commenting on the case of Muhammad Rizalman Ismail who was charged with burglary and attempted rape in New Zealand.

Muhammad Rizalman, 38, was detained in New Zealand on May 9, and brought to court the next day.

Last Wednesday, the Malaysian government decided to send back Rizalman to New Zealand to assist in the investigation but the date has not been set.

It was reported yesterday that the attorney-general was working with New Zealand authorities to determine the date of extradition.

Commenting on calls by some parties for Rizalman to be tried by military court rather than civil court, Zulkifeli said the Malaysian Armed Forces would consider various views before making a decision.

"These are personal opinions.

"The application by New Zealand should be considered by the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Chambers," he said.

A Bernama report quoting two former Armed Forces chiefs suggested that since this was the first case in the country's defence history, it should be tried in a military court as the staffer was not a civilian.

- Bernama

Hisham, were you aware of Wisma Putra's cover-up?