KUALA LUMPUR – Although former Malaysian Special Action Unit officer Sirul Azhar Umar is now a free man in Australia, he refuses to reveal who gave the kill order on Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Sirul, who faces the death penalty for the 2006 murder of Altantuya, only said the kill order was given to “protect” then deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“I’m going to tell you… specifically to protect the former (deputy) prime minister at that time, Mr Najib (Abdul Razak). So that’s it. My answer,” he told Al Jazeera English’s 101 East that was aired this morning.
He did share that his superior – chief inspector Azilah Hadri who is on death row in Sg Buloh Prison for Altantuya’s murder – said they were carrying out a special operation for Najib, who was also defence minister.
Sirul also admitted that he took RM1 million when he fled to Australia as payment for his silence, as well as alleging that “someone” is still controlling him.
Despite the veiled allegations, the Malaysian said his life will be in danger if he were extradited and wishes to stay in Australia with his son Shukri Azam, promising to follow the country’s laws.
“I promised my son I will never, ever breach the law here. I hope the Australian community accepts me, I’m not a bad person.”
He added that he would apologise to Altantuya’s family and seek their forgiveness.
Sirul was released two weeks ago from the Villawood immigration detention centre in Sydney after the Australian High Court ruled on November 8 that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful. Australia has a policy of not deporting anybody facing the death penalty in their country of origin.
Following Sirul’s release, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the authorities will discuss with relevant parties including the attorney-general and the courts on the possibility of seeking repatriation.
Najib had repeatedly denied involvement in Altantuya’s murder even though Azilah claimed Najib gave the kill order, saying she was a foreign spy.
Sirul and Azilah, who had been described as Najib’s bodyguards, were convicted in 2009 by the high court for murdering Altantuya but the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in 2013, only for the Federal Court to reinstate it in 2015.
Sirul fled to Australia before the final verdict and spent his days in Villawood since 2015. His application for political asylum was rejected in 2019.
It was reported that Altantuya was abducted in October 2006, shot in the head in Puncak Alam and her remains were blown up with explosives. – November 24, 2023