|
Mahathir Says Anwar Lying, Lambasts Qaradawi
WASHINGTON, May 1 (IslamOnline) - Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday that Anwar Ibrahim, his former deputy jailed for sodomy and corruption, is lying and playing politics concerning his medical condition.
He also lambasted Muslim scholar, and member of the ulama, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi over a fatwa issued a few years back on Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar Ibrahim has been in Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) since November, suffering from a slipped disc. His family, doctors and lawyers say he needs an urgent operation abroad, in Munich at the Alpha Clinic.
The Malaysian government, however, has decided that it would be impossible to allow a prisoner to leave the country as it goes against Malaysian law. Health Minister Chua Jui Meng also said Anwar Ibrahim had until Tuesday to decide on having the operation in Malaysia or returning to his jail cell.
As of this report, there has been no clear indication by Anwar Ibrahim on any final decision, but sources close to the National Justice Party (NJP) told IslamOnline that the popular leader would choose prison rather than risk an operation in Kuala Lumpur.
Mahathir states that Anwar does not need to go overseas for the operation because Malaysia has the necessary specialists and equipment. He referred to his own operation in Malaysia a few years ago after suffering a stroke.
The Malaysian premier made the assertion after announcing that he had rejected appeals made by a group of intellectuals calling on the government to ease restrictions on Anwar Ibrahim. Mahathir said the appeal was flatly rejected since the government's decision in not allowing Anwar Ibrahim to be operated upon in Munich was final and firm.
He added that doctors in Malaysia said the operation could be done in KLH. "There is no reason for him to go outside Malaysia for the operation since it can be done here. Even government officers have to accept doctors decisions on whether they should go for operations abroad or not," he said.
"Why does he want to go abroad? Is he such a special person, he is only a prisoner, he can be treated here. He has spinal problems and this is not something extraordinary that only one man [Thomas Hoogland of the Alpha Clinic] can treat him.
"Hoogland suggested that our operation theatres are like kitchens...this is how low they viewed us," Mahathir added in a statement made in Malay language.
"So there's no need to say that Malaysia cannot do it. It's a lie, it's politics, just like the other day when he accused us of giving him poison, it's all lies," he said.
Supporting the views of the government, Chua Jui Meng also said that 14 experts in the medical field, including three neurosurgeons [personal doctors of Anwar Ibrahim] said there was a possibility of "microscopic dissectomy" that could be done on the patient.
He added that this could be done in Malaysia's KLH and that this treatment could be the best solution for the spine problems affecting Anwar Ibrahim.
Mahathir also said he himself was operated in Malaysia. "A lot of people suffer from spinal problems, not only Anwar. Hundreds have been treated in Malaysia. Needless to tell lies. Is it possible that only one doctor in 6 billion people can treat him and this only in Germany? I never heard of such things. I am also a doctor," the Prime Minister said.
"We have all the equipment to treat Anwar. Needless to talk. All these are lies. As if in Malaysia this cannot be done. This is a lie, this is politics," he said.
He said Anwar Ibrahim used the occasion of his mother's funeral to expose himself to the world and "allowed the BBC to show him in such pain."
Continuing, Mahthir commented on religious scholars rulings on Anwar Ibrahim's case: "I read a statement by Yusuf Qaradawi who said Anwar is supposedly not guilty. Why he is not guilty is because he is a good man. If all good men did not make mistakes, good. But there are good people also who commits crimes," he said.
Anwar is due to announce Wednesday whether he will accept an offer of spinal surgery at his current hospital in Kuala Lumpur.
If he declines, he will be sent back to jail, where he is serving sentences totaling 15 years on what he calls trumped-up charges.
Anwar blames his back condition partly on a 1998 assault by the then police chief Rahim Noor. A hospital consultant has said he injured his back during a ball game inside the jail in 1999. Rahim Noor was sent to jail for two months for the assault.
Anwar has already been convicted in separate trials of abuse of power and sodomy but says he was framed in order that he be removed as a political threat to Mahathir - an allegation denied by the government.
|
