FORMER police commando Sirul Azhar Umar, who is facing a death sentence in Malaysia for the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, is making an appeal for his life in Australia, saying it is not safe for him to return home.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Sirul also asked Altantuya’s family for forgiveness. 

Despite being convicted by the Malaysian apex court of the murder, he maintained his innocence, claiming to be a scapegoat trapped in a political game. 

Sirul admitted receiving RM1 million in Australia from an undisclosed source to “shut his mouth”.

“I am appealing to the community here to accept me. I promised my son I will never, ever breach the law here. I follow everything,” he said.

“I’m aware that it’s truly unsafe for me to return there. Whatever happens, I want to build a life with my child here in Australia. I hope the Australian community accepts me (for) who I am. I’m not a bad person. 

“I love Australia from my heart, from my soul. Give me a second chance.

“One more thing. I’m going to apologise to the family of Altantuya. Please forgive me,” he said n his first interview since his release two weeks ago from the Villawood immigration detention centre in Sydney.

Sirul was among the immigration detainees released following an Australian High Court decision against indefinite immigration detention.

On concerns about his safety, Sirul said a Malaysian police officer had informed him that the Australian foreign affairs minister had contacted the Malaysian High Commission to enquire about his safety in Canberra.

“They told him I was safe. But I am really upset; look at the news, everything (is) bad about me. So the community here is really, really scared of me. (They think) Sirul is dangerous.”

Sirul fled to Australia after being sentenced to death for one of Malaysia’s most notorious crimes but had his asylum claim rejected in 2019, leading to his detention in Sydney.

A Malaysian court has convicted him of killing model cum translator Altantuya and blowing up her body with explosives. She had been pregnant at the time. 

Altantuya was the lover of Abdul Razak Baginda, a Malaysian political analyst and close associate of ex-Malaysian prime minister Najib.

At the time of the murder, Sirul had been a member of the police security detail for Najib, who was then defence minister. Also convicted with Sirul was Azilah Hadri, who is on death row in Malaysia.

Sirul’s son had in May appealed to the Australian government to grant political asylum to his father. He said he feared his father would be assassinated if he returned to Malaysia.

Due to Australian laws prohibiting the repatriation of individuals facing the death sentence in their countries of origin, Sirul is not subject to deportation to Malaysia. – November 22, 2023.