The head of Malaysia's police force today said that authorities are still searching for a former Phnom Penh police chief who fled murder charges in Cambodia, and is believed to be in Malaysia.

The Cambodian government earlier this month said Heng Pov, who faces charges in connection with the 2003 assassination of a judge, had entered Malaysia after leaving Singapore.

"We are still investigating," Inspector-General of Police, Musa Hassan, told reporters, when asked about Heng Pov's whereabouts.

"So far I've not got any feedback from my officers. We are still searching for him," he said.

Heng Pov fled to Singapore in late July to escape charges in connection with the 2003 killing. Singapore authorities subsequently arrested him on immigration violations, but said in early September he had left the country.

The Cambodian government has reportedly called on Malaysian police to arrest Heng Pov and is seeking his return, but Musa said it was not clear if he would be deported from Malaysia if found.

"It depends, because we have to see the legislation because there must be an agreement and all that for extradition," Musa said.

"Once we arrest him, then we have to see the legal implications," he said.

Heng Pov is also alleged to be involved in failed assassination attempts on a newspaper publisher, a prosecutor, an electricity authority official and the national military police chief.

Once a top adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Heng Pov had sought asylum in Australia, but its embassy in Singapore turned him down. He then appealed directly to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, apparently without success.