KUALA LUMPUR— 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. – MALAY MAIL
Dr M to discuss Sirul’s extradition with Aussie foreign minister
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will seek Australia’s position on the extradition of former policeman Sirul Azhar Umar (pic) during his upcoming meeting with its foreign minister Julie Bishop this week.
“I want to know Australia’s position on this issue,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday (July 30).
He said the meeting was not specifically to discuss the Sirul issue, but he would bring up the matter.
Bishop will be in Malaysia for a diplomatic visit from Tuesday to Thursday (July 31-Aug 2).
Dr Mahathir had previously said that the death sentence imposed on Sirul might be commuted to allow Australia to extradite the former policeman back to Malaysia.
Together with his colleague Azilah Hadri, Sirul was convicted of Altantuya’s murder and sentenced to death in 2009.
The Court of Appeal overturned their death sentences in 2013, but it was reinstated by the Federal Court after the prosecution appealed.
However, Sirul fled to Australia and was detained by immigration officials in Sydney after Interpol issued a Red Notice for him.
He has been held at the Villawood Detention Camp in Sydney since 2015. – ANN
MALAY MAIL / ANN
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