Shukri Azam said he and his father had no plans to return to Malaysia, despite the abolition of the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes, including murder.

Shukri, who was six years old when Altantuya was murdered, feared that his father’s life would be in danger if they were to come back to Malaysia, according to The Sydney Morning Herald,

“(When) we came to Australia, (we) just wanted to start afresh. For the first time in my life, I’m begging Australia.

“Please give my father (a) second chance as we haven’t done anything wrong in Malaysia or here in Australia. My father is a strong and humble man,” said Shukri, who is now 23.

Shukri was reportedly raised by foster parents in Australia after being estranged with his mother. He has been living in Australia for nearly 10 years now.

Altantuya was shot in the head in 2006 in a forest in Puncak Alam, Selangor. Her body was later blown up with explosives.

Sirul and fellow former policeman Azilah Hadri were convicted in 2009 by the High Court of killing Altantuya, who was described as an interpreter.

They succeeded in overturning their conviction at the Court of Appeal in 2013, but the Federal Court in 2015 restored their conviction and sentenced them to death. Sirul fled to Australia before the final verdict.

He has been held at the Villawood immigration detention centre since 2015 after being detained by Australian police. His first application for political asylum in Australia was rejected in 2019.

Azilah is currently on death row at Kajang Prison.