12 Indonesians on death row in KL

DENPASAR: The government is working to save 12 Indonesians on death row in Malaysia for various crimes, a government official said.

Marty Natalegawa, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said here on Wednesday 12 Indonesian migrant workers were awaiting execution in Malaysia for various offenses, including drug trafficking and murder.

"We have been working with lawyers to defend them, but we also have to respect Malaysian law," he said in response to news that a Malaysian court had just sentenced an Indonesian migrant worker to death for trafficking marijuana.

"It is the government's obligation to protect its citizens living in foreign countries," Marty said.