Bali Nine drug runner 'in shock' after clemency bid rejected

Bali Nine death row inmate Myuran Sukumaran has spoken out after his bid for presidential clemency was rejected, saying he is a changed man and his family "shouldn't have to suffer like this".

The 33-year-old Australian, who was sentenced to death in 2006 over a plot to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin from Bali to Sydney, had applied for clemency but yesterday learned by letter that Indonesia's new president, Joko Widodo, was not swayed.

Sukumaran told Fairfax Media through an intermediary that he was shocked by the decision.

"My mum's on the floor, tears, crying and can't talk," he was quoted as saying.

"What use will executing us be?"

Sukumaran had argued for clemency based on his efforts towards rehabilitation — he teaches art to fellow inmates and runs a computer lab and a t-shirt printing room.

He also expressed frustration to Fairfax Media that he and fellow Bali Nine inmate Andrew Chan should be facing a firing squad while "all the big drug dealers are free and clear to do what they want cause they pay people off big time!"

"We were wrong, we know that. We're paying for that. Our families are paying for our mistake."

A decision on Chan's plea for clemency has not yet been made.