The family of death-row inmate Yong Vui Kong went on their knees this morning, in a vain bid to seek a face-to-face meeting with Singaporean President SR Nathan.

azlan Eleven family-members knelt in the compound of the Istana, after security personnel refused them entry to the building where the president’s office is located.

'Save Vui Kong' campaign coordinator Ngeow Chow Ying said the group was led by Vui Kong’s father Yong Kwong Keong and included six siblings.

Kwong Keong and one of his sons had written personal notes for the president, pleading for clemency for Vui Kong, who has been sentenced to death for smuggling illicit drugs into the island state.

"They just wanted to meet the president for one minute, but the guards chased them away," said Ngeow.

Pleas ignored

This morning, when the group reached the main entrance, they were ushered to another entrance.

NONE After a 15-minute walk, the family found the head of security waiting for them and to receive their petition with 76,516 signatures on it. Other signatures had been gathered online.

On accepting the thick document, security personnel shooed the family away, ignoring their pleas to meet the president.

This prompted them to get on their knees, but the gesture failed to move the security personnel. Vui Kong's lawyer M Ravi and Tawau MP Chua Soon Bui were present.

The family then proceeded to Changi prison where they will meet Vui Kong, 22, who was found guilty of drug trafficking when he was 19.

The deadline for his clemency appeal expires on Thursday.