Nobody seemed happy after prosecutors asked for a lengthy delay at the start of a murder trial which analysts see as a test of Malaysia's judicial and political integrity.

"I am just shocked that the trial keeps getting delayed for so many times," said Wong Kian Kheong, who is defending Abdul Razak Baginda, a political analyst with close ties to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Baginda, 47, is charged with abetting the murder of his Mongolian former lover, Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, in a slaying that shocked Malaysia.

His trial was postponed on Monday, immediately after it began, when prosecutors asked for more time. They said they had only been assigned to the case the day before.

"It should not have happened. It is absolutely ridiculous," Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who represents accused police officer Sirul Azhar Umar, told reporters.

Sirul and another policeman, Azilah Hadri, 30, are charged with murdering Altantuya.

The judge granted a two-week delay, and said the trial would start on June 18.

The change in prosecutors was highly unusual, "particularly so because there were no reasons given," Karpal Singh, a lawyer for the victim's family, told reporters.

Changes everytime

Altantuya's father Shaariibuu Setev, 55, travelled from Mongolia with other relatives to attend the trial and said he was dissatisfied.

"He has been assured that the proceedings will be transparent but he can feel that there is something wrong somewhere with the last-minute changes," said Mongolia's honorary consul, Syed Abdul Rahman AlHabshi.

He spoke on behalf of Shaariibuu, a psychology professor who does not speak English.

It is not the first time that Shaariibuu has been left surprised by new faces dealing with the case, Syed Abdul Rahman said.

"He's surprised that every time he comes, there are changes involving the judge, lawyers and now the prosecutor!"

Lead prosecutor Tun Majid Tun Hamzah ( photo ) could not provide answers as to why he had suddenly been handed the file of more than 100 investigation reports.

"I am not privy as to why," he told the court.