On July 20, the Pahang Syariah High Court ordered her to be given six strokes of the cane after she pleaded guilty to drinking beer at a hotel lounge in Cherating last year.

Kartika's case has caught international attention, the newspaper said, adding: 'From Australia to Indonesia, Thailand, China, Germany, the US and Britain, news of her impending sentence has thrust Kartika into the international limelight and into most blog chats.

A Google search for her full name resulted in 63,900 hits while there were over 1,700 news stories on Kartika.

There was also a Facebook account listed as 'HELP Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno'

The prime minister's accommodating move came even as the government in another state Selangor authorised mosque officials to arrest, without warrant, Muslims drinking alcohol in public places.

Also at risk of being arrested are Muslims selling, storing and displaying alcoholic drinks for sale.

Selangor executive councillor (minister) Hassan Mohammed Ali who made the announcement Monday is also the Selangor state commissioner of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), a key constituent of opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat.