Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has blamed Wellington for the delay in the extradition to New Zealand of former military attache Muhammad Rizalman Ismail in connection with an alleged sex crime.

"The last that I know, it is on their side," Hishammuddin told a press conference at the Parliament lobby this morning.

He said this in response to a question on whether the slow extradition process was due to Putrajaya's fault or its counterpart in New Zealand.

However, Hishammuddin said he did not have any new information to offer to date.

According Wisma Putra, it is now waiting for the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) for further action.

"In accordance with the Extradition Act 1992 (Malaysia), the Ministry has forwarded the request to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General Chambers (AGC) for further action," it said in a statement today

It also denied accusations that Putrajaya is "dragging its feet" on the matter.

The ministry said it received an official request for the extradition on Oct 3, some five months after the case emerged.

"The ministry would like to reiterate that given the excellent bilateral relations between Malaysia and New Zealand, as well as taking into account the strong public interest in the case, the extradition request will undergo the due process of the law.

"Malaysia will continue to work closely with New Zealand to ensure that the rights of all the parties related to this case are respected and protected," it added in a statement.

On Tuesday, DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo had called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to explain the delay.

'Is Putrajaya dragging its feet?'

"It has been some five months now since the alleged incident but we don't yet see any headway in the matter. This sends the wrong signal," Gobind had said.

He said this suggested that Putrajaya was either "plainly incompetent and unable to deliver on its pledges" to foreign countries or that it is "dragging its feet" in the matter.

Wisma Putra has repeatedly stressed that it was prepared to extradite Rizalman and was awaiting Wellington's instructions.

Wellington has been tight-lipped about the process but last week revealed that it has finally filed an official request for extradition.

Rizalman ( right ) made headlines when he was arrested for alleged burglary and assault with intent to rape but was allowed to be brought back to Malaysia after some diplomatic intrigue.

Rizalman is accused of perpetrating the crime against 22-year-old New Zealander Tania Billingsley on May 9, and was arrested the following day.

He was posted at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington at the time.

However, after being charged, Rizalman was flown back to Malaysia on May 22 after he invoked diplomatic immunity.

A miscommunication by New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry reportedly led Malaysia to believe that it has no objection to Rizalman’s departure.