Sirul Azhar Umar has been "betrayed" for merely doing his duty as a police officer, his mother Piah Samat reportedly said.

According to PAS organ Harakah Daily, Piah, 74, said the family still hopes that Sirul would be freed after being sentenced to death for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

"Only Allah knows how I feel, I can only pray that he remains safe," the publication quoted her as saying after several PAS leaders visited Sirul's family home in Taiping.

Sirul did not appear in court for the verdict and is currently in Australia.

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar (left in photo) had paid the visit - along with PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat - to the family home.

Piah also described her son as someone who was responsible and hardworking, according to the report.

She referred to him as someone who cared for the family and - as the fourth child among eight siblings - constantly kept in touch with them.

Meanwhile, Piah noted that the stories being told about her son had made her feel "ashamed" to meet people.

"There are also people who say all sorts of things, they say he's been paid off despite the fact that he did not get anything, until now I am ashamed to meet people," she admitted.

Piah also lamented that these were trying times for the family as Sirul's younger brother had passed away just last year.

Sirul (right), who apparently fled the country before the verdict was announced on Jan 13, was arrested in Brisbane by the Australian authorities.

Malaysia is expected to seek his extradiction but Australia has a policy of not sending an individual back to his home country should he face the death penalty there.