KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will seek Australia’s stand on convicted murderer Sirul Azhar Umar when he meets with the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop this week.
Dr Mahathir told reporters in Parliament today that he would he would “want to know” Australia’s position on Sirul, who has been in an Australian detention centre for the past three years.
He clarified that he would not be asking specifically on extraditing Sirul back to Malaysia, where the former police commando faces a death sentence.
“Not specifically, but I want to know what is Australia’s position on the matter,” Dr Mahathir said.
Sirul fled for Australia in 2015 after he was found guilty of the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shariibuu in 2006.
He is yet to be extradited back to Malaysia due to Malaysia having a death penalty for those found guilty of murder.
Sirul previously wrote a letter to Dr Mahathir, delivered via former Umno leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan who visited his detention centre in Sydney several months ago.
