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Jailed
Leader Accuses Malaysian Government Of Ill-Treatment
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| Anwar
Ibrahim: “The Home Minister is abusing his powers by
misdirecting prison authorities”
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By
Kazi Mahmood
IOL Correspondent in South Asia
JAKARTA,
Feb. 2 (IslamOnline) - Anwar Ibrahim, the jailed and ailing Malay
leader in Malaysia has accused the Malaysian authorities of
ill-treatment and of harassment, his solicitor Sankara Nair said.
In
a media statement released on Thursday Jan. 31, Nair said Ibrahim
told him that the prison authorities had increased the sudden and
surprise searches of his jail cell.
He
said last week five senior officers from the prison headquarters HQ
made a surprise raid on Ibrahim’s cell. They were fully equipped
with state-of-the-art equipment, including metal detectors.
Using
these gadgets, they swept every nook and corner of Ibrahim’s tiny
cell and the surrounding areas for about an hour looking for,
amongst other things, a cell phone. The search was conducted without
Ibrahim’s presence in his cell.
In
a statement issued to the press by Ibrahim’s lawyer, the jailed
leader expressed his vehement protest of the inhuman manner that he
is being treated.
He
protested against the mistreatment which not only came from the
Sungai Buloh prison authorities, but also from a special task force
from the HQ.
“It
smacks of deliberate political harassment ordered by the Home
Minister who abuses his powers by misdirecting the prison
authorities.” Ibrahim added.
He
also said that he felt this is a clear attempt to “frustrate my
thoughts, unsettle my mind, and to rattle my sprits, in the light of
the impending Federal Court appeal next week.
“It
has become a pattern to subject me to such forms of harassment
especially before a court hearing". He said.
Ibrahim,
who was inflicted with a chronic spinal injury in late 2000, has
been denied the medical treatment of his choice.
Dr.
Thomas Hoogland, a spine specialist from Germany who came to Kuala
Lumpur to inspect the government hospital facilities, has declared
that the local facilities are not satisfactory enough and has
requested that Anwar be sent to his clinic in Germany instead.
The
Malaysian government, however, denied Anwar permission to undergo
the surgery in Germany and, instead, sent him back to prison.
“Anwar
is practically bedridden and cannot move without the aid of a
wheelchair,” his lawyer said.
Anwar
is also constantly on painkillers and the side effects have caused a
swelling of the limbs. Those who have visited him in prison say he
is definitely in pain and has to overdose himself with painkillers
to control the pain.
Government
doctors have also complained that it takes them weeks to obtain
permission to see Ibrahim and the only treatment they are allowed to
offer him are tablets whereas Anwar requires more than that.
Ibrahim
was the deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, heir to Mahathir Mohamad
the Prime Minister. He was removed from office by Mahathir who
accused of him of immoral conducts. The jailed leader and father of
5 is currently serving a 15 years jail sentence for sodomy and
corruption.
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