Ramkarpal presses A-G for status of Sirul’s extradition

There has been no response from both Malaysian and Australian authorities over the status of Sirul Azhar Umar's extradition proceedings, says DAP lawyer Ramkarpal Singh. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 25, 2016.. DAP's Ramkarpal Singh today wants to know if Putrajaya is serious about extraditing murder convict Sirul Azhar Umar, who is being held in Sydney by Australian immigration authorities.

The Bukit Gelugor MP said Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali and his Australian counterpart had yet to reply his letters on February 16 and 17 to find out if extradition proceedings for Sirul had been initiated.

He said based on his queries in the Dewan Rakyat sessions since March last year, the home minister's standard answer was that Putrajaya was in the process of starting negotiations with Canberra to extradite Sirul to face the Federal Court sentence.

"It is disturbing to note that there has been no news of whether Malaysia has indeed initiated extradition proceedings against Sirul which prompted me to write the letters seeking clarification.

"It is shocking to note that I have yet to receive a response from either of the said attorney-generals.

"In the absence of a response to my said query, the possibility that extradition proceedings have not been initiated, contrary to the home minister's assurance in March 2015,... cannot be excluded," he said today.

Ramkarpal said Apandi was answerable to the public and his lack of response could give rise to the perception that Putrajaya was not interested in extraditing Sirul, disrespecting the Federal Court decision.

"It also gives an impression that the government is afraid of extraditing Sirul for reasons best known to it."

He urged Apandi to publicly state if the extradition proceedings have been initiated for the benefit of the public as well as the family of the murdered Mongolian citizen, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Sirul and former policeman Azilah Hadri were convicted of killing Altantuya and blowing up her body with explosives in a jungle near Shah Alam 10 years ago. Azilah is being held on death row in prison.

Ramkarpal is the counsel for Altantuya's parents, Shaariibuu Setev and Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and her two sons, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga, in a RM100 million civil suit against the Malaysian government that was filed in June, 2007. – February 25, 2016.