The body of Abdul Amzar Azim Azmi was discovered by local authorities this afternoon after he went missing at 3.30pm yesterday, it said in a statement.

The foreign ministry statement said Amzar’s body was found in Lake Karapiro, near Hamilton, at noon today.

It said officials from the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington had gone to Hamilton to liaise with local authorities and render necessary help.

In Alor Star, the student’s father, Azmi Abd Seman, 49, said Amzar seemed unhappy to return to New Zealand after his holidays on Feb 21.

He said Amzar, who had spent his three-month holiday in Alor Star since November, kept packing and unpacking his clothes.

“On the day of his departure, Amzar did not say a word to us and did not hug and kiss us as usual,” he told reporters at his house in Kampung Belukar, Hutan Kampung, near here, today.

Amzar, a student of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, was believed to have drowned while swimming in the lake yesterday.

Azmi said Amzar visited the lake frequently with friends but yesterday decided to go to the lake alone.

“Usually, he did not swim in the lake. His friend told me that Amzar’s body was found at the bottom of the lake.”

The contractor said Amzar was an outstanding student who frequently scored good results in his examination, was religious and obedient to his parents.

Amzar’s mother, Azura Bahari, 44, said the eldest of five siblings washed dishes to cover the cost of his studies in New Zealand.

“Although he was sponsored by Mara, Amzar was frugal. If we wanted to send him money, he would refuse and ask us to give it to his other siblings.”