The Kuala Lumpur High Court today rejected a bid by government lawyers to have fugitive Cambodian ex-police chief Heng Pov quickly deported, saying he deserves a fair hearing in the courts.

"I have to be fair. I know the urgency. I do without fear or favour. The 'not to deport' order remains," said High Court Judge Abdul Kadir Musa, fixing the next hearing for Nov 3.

Heng Pov's lawyers, recently appointed after he dismissed his previous counsel, had earlier urged the court to postpone Tuesday's hearing and not allow the former police chief's deportation in the meantime.

"Our request at this stage is for an adjournment of this hearing and to get access to the applicant so that we can get further instructions," said new lawyer N Sivananthan, who was appointed last Friday.

Government lawyers strongly opposed the request, arguing that Heng Pov, who fled murder charges in Cambodia late July, had adopted "delaying tactics" by picking a new legal team.

"The law provides the Immigration (Department) the right to deport him. The court should not interfere. This is a delaying tactic. They discharged their previous lawyer to further delay the case," said prosecutor Mohamad Hanafiah.

Immigration officials said Heng Pov was being detained at Bukit Aman, the national police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Asylum in another country

Heng Pov, who was arrested early this month after entering Malaysia from Singapore, won the first round of his legal battle two weeks ago when Abdul Kadir ruled he could remain in Malaysia until his case was heard.

Sivananthan told reporters Heng Pov was seeking asylum in another unnamed country because he feared he would be executed if deported to Cambodia.

"My client's family is trying to get asylum for him. We hope the Malaysian government will allow him to travel to another country. Malaysia should not be involved in the internal politics of another country," he said.

Heng Pov was convicted and sentenced in absentia on September 18 for conspiracy in connection with the killing of Municipal Court judge Sok Sethamony, who was shot in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

Malaysia does not have an extradition treaty with Cambodia, and does not accept asylum seekers.