December 5, 2025 | 01:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Law disclosed that as many as 150 Indonesian citizens are facing the death penalty in Malaysia. These individuals are currently involved in legal processes ranging from investigations and trials to appeals.
The Interim Charge d'Affaires (KUAI) of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Danang Waskito, stated that the majority of cases involving Indonesian nationals in Malaysia are related to drug trafficking, murder, and other serious offenses.
"Whether as drug couriers, individuals deceived by syndicates, or those involved without full understanding of the consequences," he said in a press statement quoted on Friday, December 5, 2025.
According to Danang, these Indonesian nationals have committed crimes that demand serious attention, as each case has different legal, social, and humanitarian dimensions. Therefore, the Legal Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Johor Bahru, and KJRI Penang are making various efforts to ensure that Indonesian nationals involved in these cases receive proper legal assistance and a fair trial.
In addition to providing legal assistance, the Indonesian government representatives in the neighboring country also regularly conduct consular visits to the detainees and establish communication with the Malaysian legal authorities. The goal is to gather accurate information, advocate for the humane treatment of Indonesian nationals, and provide legal support and diplomatic communication. "Especially during crucial stages such as requesting pardons from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the Sultan of the State," he said.
Danang emphasized that the current challenges are substantial. This is due to the different legal dynamics in each case, such as difficulty in evidence, language barriers, defendants' limited understanding of the law, and lengthy appeal processes.
Therefore, he believes that cross-agency coordination is the key to strengthening the effectiveness of legal protection and diplomatic assistance for Indonesian nationals.
Danang explained that the Malaysian government is currently implementing reforms to the death penalty system, which provides an opportunity for case reviews and resentencing. Although the death penalty is still enforced for certain crimes, Malaysia has reformed the law regarding the mandatory death penalty.
This reform grants judges the authority to impose alternative sentences, such as life imprisonment or long-term incarceration. However, the death penalty is still applicable in the Malaysian justice system.
"Therefore, its implementation still requires serious attention and diplomatic efforts from Indonesia, especially for Indonesian nationals who are still facing such penalty threats," he stated.
Read: Ex-PM Mahathir Files Police Report Against Anwar Ibrahim Over Proposed US Trade Deal
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