The family of a murdered Mongolian woman today said they feared for their safety in Malaysia after a two-week delay in the trial of those accused in her death.

The father and two cousins of Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, are key witnesses in the trial of Abdul Razak Baginda, a political analyst with close ties to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"They are feeling threatened and are fearful of staying here," said Mongolia's honorary consul in Malaysia, Syed Abdul Rahman AlHabshi.

He was commenting on behalf of Shaariibuu Setev, 55, who does not speak English.

Shaariibuu and his two nieces will remain in Malaysia to wait for the trial to resume on June 18, Syed Abdul Rahman said.

"If Altantuya can be murdered, then the same thing can happen twice as Shaariibuu and his nieces are key witnesses in this case," he said.

Altantuya's two cousins accompanied her to Malaysia before she died.

Abdul Razak, 47, is charged with abetting the woman's murder.

Two policemen are charged with the killing itself. They are members of a police unit that guards the country's top leaders, including the prime minister and his deputy.

Civil suit

Their criminal trial was postponed until June 18 after prosecutors said they had only been assigned to the case on Sunday and were not prepared.

All three accused face the death penalty if convicted.

Najib has vehemently denied any role in the murder case.

Altantuya's family were accompanied by a translator as well as a lawyer, Bayaar Pyrevdorj, from Mongolia's Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs. He is monitoring the trial for his government.

The five travelled from Mongolia for the hearing.

They later left the courthouse in a police van as photographers rushed to take their pictures.

Altantuya's mother, father, and her two children filed a lawsuit Monday seeking RM100 million in damages from the Malaysian government and the three accused.