KUALA LUMPUR: Seventy-four Malaysians have been sentenced to death abroad for drug trafficking offences as of early this month, according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said that these death sentences were carried out in Brunei, China, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
He added that the government is committed to monitoring consular cases involving Malaysians overseas.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Malaysia's diplomatic missions abroad, ensures the welfare of death row inmates by attending their trials as 'watching briefs' or by conducting regular consular visits to detention centres in line with the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations."
"For Malaysian citizens sentenced to death within the country, the matter does not fall under the purview of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and should be referred to the relevant ministries or agencies," he said in a written response to Datuk Muhammad Baktiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Elaborating further, Mohamad said Malaysia's diplomatic missions abroad can provide a list of law firms to the individuals and their families as a reference to assist in securing legal services for their trials and appeals.
"Any individual found guilty and sentenced to death may submit an appeal or request for clemency, provided such appeals or clemency are permitted under the judicial system of the respective foreign country."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Malaysia's diplomatic missions abroad, will also ensure that Malaysian detainees have access to appropriate avenues for appeal and clemency," he added.
He explained that in accordance with Malaysia's Foreign Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Malaysia's diplomatic missions abroad cannot interfere in the legal matters of a foreign country and must respect the laws of the host country, just as other nations respect Malaysia's legal system.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs always advises Malaysians who are abroad or planning to travel overseas to be vigilant and to understand the laws and regulations of the countries they are visiting to avoid becoming entangled in unwanted situations," he said.