|
Anwar Ibrahim Insists Munich Surgery Possible
WASHINGTON, May 2 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Anwar Ibrahim, the jailed former Malaysian deputy prime minister, at the center of a controversy regarding a back injury he suffers, stepped up pressure on the Malaysian government on Wednesday.
At a press conference, Datin Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife, released a letter indicating he would only accept surgery performed overseas.
Observers believe this paves the way for Anwar Ibrahim to return to prison at the high security facility in Sungei Buloh. IslamOnline received confirmation of this as a member of the opposition said Monday that Anwar Ibrahim had decided to go back to jail.
The information published Monday was exclusively provided to IslamOnline and Anwar Ibrahim has not changed his stance on an ultimatum given to him by the government last Friday.
Observers state that his decision places the Malaysian government in a position to receive widespread criticism, weakening its credibility in the eyes of the international community, and largely damaging its human rights record in the process.
Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday made a thunderous statement condemning Anwar Ibrahim for what he says are purely political motives by his former deputy.
Mahathir did not mince words in an attack against his former protégé, insisting at various points that Anwar Ibrahim was telling lies and pretending to be extensively sick.
The Malaysian leader also lambasted Dutch back specialist Thomas Hoogland for comments on the state of Malaysia's hospitals and their lack of facilities to ensure a successful surgery.
The aging premier also criticized religious scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi for an edict in favor of Anwar Ibrahim in which he urged the Muslim community to condemn Mahathir for his treatment of the jailed leader.
Malaysia has come under intense and unrelenting pressure and criticism from various quarters on the international level. It is also facing growing discontent at home, with a sudden awakening of non-governmental organizations (NGO) and Trade Union movements.
The added pressure by workers' federations, the increasingly suffocating economy, the emboldened opposition after the Internal Security Act (ISA) arrests last month, as well growing anti-ISA campaigns by the wives of arrested opposition leaders, are seen as serious challenges for Mahathir's administration.
Mahathir himself is facing increased pressure from within his own government and the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO). The National Front (NF) is fissured on the ISA issue with the Gerakan, an important faction of the NF, criticizing the use of the infamous law to silence opponents.
In addition, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, also Home Affairs Minister, has been criticized by the opposition and rights activists for his lack of reaction against the use of the ISA.
Sources said the deputy premier did not agree with the arrests under the ISA, but has chosen to toe the line engaged by the Prime Minister who ordered the arrests of the National Justice Party (NJP) activists.
The never-ending Anwar Ibrahim saga only adds more fuel to arguments by leaders of the opposition who are gaining ground in Malaysia and seem to be mobilizing larger crowds every time they address the public.
Anwar's rejection of the government's offer for spinal surgery in Malaysia will send him back to his cell in prison. His suffering will be a growing concern to the Malaysians.
"The no show of mercy from the Malaysian government will be an added pressure on Mahathir and his colleagues. They will be portrayed as inhuman," a Malaysian traveling to the U.S. said.
"It offers Anwar Ibrahim an unprecedented political gain even though it will probably damage his health indefinitely. That will be part of his sacrifice to bring more democracy, justice and freedom in Malaysia," said an editor of a reform movement Internet website.
In his letter to Malaysian authorities, Anwar Ibrahim repeated his assurance that he would return to Malaysia "to join the people in their strife" if allowed to go overseas.
"This is exactly what is scaring the Malaysian government," the reformist editor said, adding that it is obvious that Mahathir's administration would prefer Anwar Ibrahim to "stay put in Munich rather than to return to Malaysia as a hero, fighting for justice and joining the people in their strife."
"In Kuala Lumpur, there is a growing sense of outrage. The people laughed at Mahathir's outbursts on national television on Tuesday. The show of support for Anwar Ibrahim is real, it is only Mahathir and his cronies who are trying to avoid the reality," the reformist website concluded.
Anwar Ibrahim wrote a 23-page reply to hospital authorities where he is being treated. He said he holds the government responsible for the consequences of his delayed surgery.
Wan Azizah earlier said she would sue the Malaysian prisons and the relevant authorities if anything grievous would happen to Anwar due to the refusal for him to be operated in Munich.
The NJP blames Anwar's current health condition on the beating he suffered at the hands of the former police chief Abdul Rahim Noor, who has started his two-month prison sentence this week for the beating.
Anwar, who is serving a total of 15 years for abuse of power and sodomy, was transferred from Sungai Buloh prison to Kuala Lumpur Hospital last November with a slipped disc.
The Hospital said the former minister risks aggravating his back pain, and could lose the use of his lower limbs, bladder and sexual functions if he refuses surgery. Anwar said the risk of paralysis if the surgery is done in Malaysia was greater, and he could not take such chances.
Currently, jail-bound Anwar remains in hospital, not knowing when, or if, he would be transferred back to prison.
In the reply letter, Anwar said he complained about back pain after the 1998 assault by Rahim Noor, and hit back at Mahathir, saying possible further court charges against him were a "script prepared by an authoritarian leader and his company of conspirators."
Anwar, due in court May 12th to hear whether state prosecutors will proceed with five other outstanding charges, vowed to fight on.
Anwar said 10 of his supporters detained last month under the ISA, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, were "victims of vindictiveness."
Wan Azizah said endoscopic surgery was less risky than the method proposed by the government. She said Anwar was "not pretending [about his condition] or using it to gain politicial mileage" and urged Mahathir to let him go overseas.
|
