Convicted fugitive police personnel Sirul Azhar Umar may face indefinite detention in Australia, which will cost Australian taxpayers millions of dollars, according to a report.

National broadsheet The Australian, citing sources, said Sirul's application for a protection visa, which would allow him to be freed and live in Australia, is likely to be denied.

The report said Sirul has been formally notified by Australia's Immigration and Border Protection Department that his ­application will likely be denied because he had committed a non-political crime before entering the country in October 2014.

The immigration authorities were said to have told Sirul that they have received "unfavourable information, which does not support your application (for a protection visa)".

Sirul now has until Aug 14 to offer any information to argue for his release.

In 2009, Sirul and fellow police personnel Azilah Hadri - both part of then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's security detail - were jointly convicted for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. The Court of Appeal acquitted the duo in 2013.

Following this, the Federal Court overturned the acquittal in January 2015. By then, Sirul had already fled the country.

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last month that Putrajaya has yet to formulate a plan to extradite Sirul, as it does do not have any room to negotiate with the Australian authorities.

Zahid said in a parliamentary reply that Malaysia was unable to extradite Sirul because Australian laws prevent extraditions of persons upon whom a death sentence has been imposed.