PARLIAMENT Muhammad Rizalman Ismail, the former Malaysian diplomat facing assault charges in New Zealand, was willing to go back to New Zealand to face the charges, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said today.

Even though Rizalman returned to Malaysia shortly after being charged in May, invoking diplomatic immunity, Hamzah told the Parliament today that Rizalman did not raise any objections and “was ready” to face the charges.

The former second warrant officer at the Malaysian embassy there has now returned to New Zealand.

Hamzah revealed that Rizalman expressed his willingness to return to New Zealand during a hearing held at a sessions court in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 16.

The hearing was held shortly after Malaysia received a request from New Zealand on Oct 3 to have Rizalman's diplomatic immunity waived.

Meanwhile, Hamzah ( right ) also reminded all diplomats overseas to always "maintain the good name of the country and the government" in all that they do and not to jeopardise the name of the Foreign Ministry.

However, he said, the government does not have figures on the number of Malaysian diplomats who have to date broken laws in the country they are in.

"As for that, we do not have the figures," he said.

Hamzah said this in reply to Dr Azman Ismail (PKR-Kuala Kedah) during Question Time.