Justice for Altantuya Shaariibuu: Malaysia and Australia must resolve the extradition of Sirul Azhar Umar
To the Government of Malaysia and the Government of Australia

Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian citizen, was murdered in Malaysia in October 2006. She was 28 years old and the mother of two young sons. Twenty years on, her family is still waiting for the full truth.

Two former Malaysian police officers, Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri, were convicted of killing her. Malaysia's Federal Court reinstated those convictions in January 2015. Sirul remains in Australia, beyond the reach of the Malaysian courts, and who gave the order for the killing has never been established.

Mongolia has now raised the case formally. On November 12th 2026, Mongolia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered a formal démarche to Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with a note verbale. In it, Mongolia requested:

•       a written account of the current status of all criminal and civil proceedings relating to the case;

•       an assurance that Altantuya's family continues to have full access to the courts, to legal representation and to information;

•       that any new material relevant to the case be examined by the competent Malaysian authorities, in accordance with Malaysian law; and

•       dialogue at government level on enforcing final judgments, and on what further support may be possible for the family.

Mongolia has asked for a written reply. It has made clear that it fully respects the independence of Malaysia's judiciary and is not asking any government to change the decision of any court. It is acting on every state's duty to protect the interests of its citizens abroad.

This petition stands behind that request, and asks both governments to take the further steps that would allow the conviction to be enforced.

Australia will not surrender a person who faces execution, and Sirul's death sentence still stands. That obstacle can be removed. Malaysia abolished the mandatory death penalty in 2023, and in 2024 Azilah's death sentence was commuted to a term of imprisonment. Australian extradition law permits surrender where the requesting country gives a formal undertaking that the death penalty will not be carried out.

On 12 January 2027, the Kuala Lumpur High Court is due to hear a judicial review application brought by Altantuya's father, Shaariibuu Setev. It concerns the investigation into statements Azilah has made about the circumstances of the murder. The hearing gives both governments a clear occasion to act.

We call on the Government of Malaysia to:

1.     Reply in writing to the démarche delivered by the Government of Mongolia, and take up the government-level dialogue it proposes.

2.     Give Australia a formal and legally sufficient undertaking that Sirul Azhar Umar will not be executed if he is returned.

3.     Make and pursue an extradition request, and resolve any outstanding legal questions about his existing sentence.

4.     Open a thorough and independent investigation into the allegations about who ordered or facilitated the murder.

5.     Cooperate fully with the judicial review proceedings listed for January 2027.

We call on the Government of Australia to:

1.     Work with the Malaysian authorities to identify a lawful route for Sirul's extradition.

2.     Assess any undertaking Malaysia provides against Australian extradition law and its human rights safeguards.

3.     Support lawful cooperation with Malaysia so that relevant evidence can be examined and court processes can go ahead.

This petition does not seek the death penalty for anyone. It asks that a murder conviction be enforced, and that the questions the trial left open be answered in court.

Altantuya's sons have grown up without their mother, and her father has spent twenty years asking the same questions. Her own country has now asked them too, through the proper diplomatic channel. A conviction that is never enforced, and allegations that are never investigated, leave her family without justice.

Justice for Altantuya, without execution and through the rule of law.