A British woman has been arrested over the alleged murder of her husband on the Malaysian holiday island of Langkawi.

Samantha Jones, 62, was arrested after her husband John William Jones, also 62, was found dead in the early hours of Thursday at the couple’s bungalow at Mukim Kedawang, according to local reports.

Jones was remanded in custody when she appeared at Alor Setar Court on Thursday and is due to return to court on October 24, the Star in Malaysia reported.

British authorities are assisting Jones and offering support to her husband’s family.

“We are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Malaysia, and are in contact with the Malaysian authorities,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

He added they were also in contact with the Malaysian police.

The expat couple had reportedly lived on the tropical island of Langkawi for more than 10 years.

Murder presently carries a mandatory death sentence in Malaysia although the country’s government this week vowed to abolish capital punishment, with law changes set to come.