KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak urges the current Malaysian government to collaborate with Australian authorities to facilitate the extradition of former police officer Sirul Azhar Umar.
The former prime minister conveyed this through his legal team, Shafee & Co, underscoring the significant of conducting a thorough investigation into Sirul's assertions during an interview, aired on Al Jazeera's 101 East program by Mary Ann Jolley, concerning the 2006 murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu
"To support this, our client suggests that the Malaysian Government might offer assurances against the imposition of the death penalty to facilitate the broader objective of truth and justice.
"While our client retains all legal rights and remedies in this matter against Sirul, AlJazeera and its reporter Mary Ann Jolley, he (Najib) remains steadfast in his denial of any involvement in the tragic demise of Altantuya Shaaribuu through such a heinous crime."
In the interview, Sirul, who was convicted of the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya said he was made a scapegoat and that it was dangerous for him to return to Malaysia.
He also apologised to Altantuya's family and requested forgiveness.
Halfway through the interview, Sirul Azhar had an emotional breakdown.
"I'm a circumstantial victim. I'm a scapegoat, that's why I'm telling the truth. They're using me as a scapegoat."
During the interview, Sirul claimed he was not responsible for Altantuya's murder despite being found guilty by the Malaysian court.
He alleged that he was trapped in a political game, admitting to receiving finances while in Australia from an undisclosed source, purportedly to "silence him'.