Several journalists were engaged in a heated exchange with PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar after the scheduled conference call with fugitive police commando Sirul Azhar Umar did not take place.

A journalist from RTM questioned Mahfuz on how the he could prove it was really Sirul on the other line.

"If he has (access to) Internet facilities, why can't he just tell all, over the Internet?" the reporter asked.

Mahfuz replied that he could not answer the question and it was best reserved for Sirul, once the latter joins the conference call.

He said he was informed that Sirul has access to a mobile phone and the Internet, adding that he has been in contact with Sirul.

Following this, a heated argument ensued between the same journalist and Mahfuz on the purpose of the conference call, in view of the fact that the court had already found Sirul guilty of murder.

The million dollar question

Mahfuz replied that the court had failed to address the motive of the murder.

"A motive will determine whether the sentence given is correct, whether the murder is with intention or not.

"In this case, the person who has the real intention to kill Altantuya is free," said Mahfuz.

Several PAS members in attendance then shouted at the journalist to stand down, arguing that the press conference was not a platform for debate.

Not satisfied with what was going on, a journalist from Agenda Daily again questioned Mahfuz on whether the press would indeed be able to speak to the real Sirul.

Mahfuz said he was certain of this, for he had been in contact with Sirul, based on the details of their conversations.

Packed event

The conference call was supposed to take place at 11.30am at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

It was a event packed with many journalists, as most news organisations were expecting a major tell-all from Sirul.

After trying to call Sirul for 40 minutes, the event was called off and most of the journalists left.

However, about 1.10pm, Sirul called Mahfuz and the conference call was held at 1.28pm, through speakers linked to Mahfuz's mobile phone.

Sirul gave a short statement to the remaining 10 journalists presented and ended the call abruptly, without taking any questions.

Malaysiakini had prior to this had ben able to contact Sirul, who lamented that he was convicted based on circumstantial evidence and that he was merely following orders - which led to his encounter with Altantuya Shariibuu in October 2006.

Last month, the Federal Court upheld the conviction of Sirul and Azilah Hadri for the murder of Altantuya, a Mongolian national, and their death sentence.

At the time of the murder, Sirul and Azilah were both part of then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's security detail.

Sirul fled to Australia before the Federal Court decision. As he is on the Interpol red list, Australian authorities are holding him at an immigration facility in Villawood, Sydney.

Australia has stated that it is bound by laws that prevent Sirul's repatriation, unless Malaysia promises not to impose the death sentence on him.