KAWANA pastor Sharon Tan hopes the imminent execution of the Bali Nine ringleaders will prompt Indonesia to rethink the death penalty.

Mrs Tan, who met Andrew Chan in his Balinese jail two months ago, said the publicity around Chan and his co-accused Myuran Sukumaran had been "history-making for Indonesia".

Chan and Sukumaran have been transported from Kerobokan jail in Bali to the remote island of Nusakambangan, where it is expected they will be executed by a

firing squad within days.

Mrs Tan heard the news through her two sons, Alex, 21, and Ezra, 16, who also met Chan in jail.

"This is a tragedy," she said.

Mrs Tan had no doubt Chan and Sukumaran's legacy would live on long after they had gone.

"There is great comfort and encouragement and strength for those left in a Bali jail who know them as mighty transformed men.

"I know Andrew has a peace in that he knows where is going as a man of God.

"We are trusting in God to turn this around for good.

"Andrew has given such a strong message to young men who may be contemplating drugs (in a letter he wrote from jail to his younger self).

"This will become his life message,'' Mrs Tan said.

"He is a voice of warning against the dark side of life and he proves the power of transformation and that anybody can change. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have gained worldwide support and for that we honour them. I feel the sorrow of it, yet it is out of our hands.

"I am trusting God his legacy will live on."