Mongolian president Khaltmaagiin Battulga today urged Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to help the family of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu seek justice.

In his congratulatory message to Mahathir on his appointment as Malaysia's seventh prime minister, Battulga described the 2006 murder as a "grave crime".

"As the President of Mongolia, I pay special attention to the grave crime committed in Malaysia on 18 October 2006 – the murder of Ms Shaariibuu Altantuya, a Mongolian national and a mother of 2 children.

"It has created an unfavourable atmosphere in the bilateral relations between our two counties and, especially between the people.

"Therefore, I sincerely hope that Your Excellency Prime Minister will pay attention in bringing justice, implementing court decision and settling the civil suit of the family of the victim in a fair manner to invigorate the atmosphere in the bilateral relations between our two countries," the president said.

Altantuya's father and two children filed an RM100 million civil suit against the federal government in 2007. The suit is yet to be disposed of.

Two former police commandos who were attached to then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's security detail were convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Altantuya.

No motive was established by the courts.