Rokiah Mohammad, 65, and Roshidi Ahmad, 42, will be accompanied by state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Aziz Mahathir.

Azrul confirmed that they will leave Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas at 3.30pm, Bernama reported.

Last night, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in a statement that Phee and Azrul would represent the state government to help Penang-born Rahimi.

FMT reported that Rahimi, 36, underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his abdomen yesterday but would have a second operation today to remove another bullet lodged near his spine.

Rokiah and Roshidi are from Kampung Binjai in Bayan Lepas.

Rahimi works as a technician at a milk factory in Christchurch. His wife, Norazila Wahid, 39, is studying medicine. They have two children – a son aged 11 and a daughter aged nine.

Wisma Putra had earlier confirmed that Rahimi and another Malaysian, Mohd Tarmizi Shuib, were injured in the shootings.

A third Malaysian, Nazril Hisham Omar, 46, was also reported to have been injured although his condition is not known.

His wife, Assoc Prof Zurinawati Mohyi, a senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Puncak Alam, is expected to leave with her son, Muhammad Haiqal Daniel, 20, for New Zealand today.

Forty-nine people attending Friday prayers were killed and nearly 50 injured in the shootings.

An Australian, Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged in the Christchurch district court with murder.