Stating this, PKR’s Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah said no matter what “propagandist version” Prime Minister Najib Razak and the BN government put out, “the entire world and many Malaysians consider Anwar a political prisoner”.
“Just yesterday, in yet another slap to the face of the Najib regime, the Inter Parliamentary Union, the global association of the parliaments of the world where Malaysia is a member, passed a resolution calling for the immediate release of Anwar,” he said in a press statement.
Sivarasa, who is a member of PKR’s political bureau and Central Leadership Council, said the foodstuffs, the hospital bed and all other amenities provided to Anwar in prison were all recommended by his doctors, taking into account Anwar’s medical condition.
Referring to the statement in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Sivarasa said what was deliberately not addressed by Zahid was Anwar’s need for regular intensive physiotherapy in hospital conditions.
“The need for such physiotherapy is confirmed in written reports by Hospital Kuala Lumpur doctors and also Anwar’s independent orthopaedic specialists.
“Each time Anwar was hospitalised in June, July, November 2015 and February and March 2016 for check-ups and treatment, he was given, on the advice of HKL’s specialists, intensive physiotherapy daily which greatly assisted him by reducing pain and discomfort from his right shoulder injury.
“The HKL doctors recognise he needs such physiotherapy. They know he needs it to reduce pain and to prevent permanent damage in the future.
“What Zahid is avoiding replying was why when such treatment was given by the HKL doctors, in line with DSAI’s independent specialist advice, why the BN government, led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, deprived Anwar of such treatment in prison.
“Why is he not being taken to hospital and given proper physio as happened even during his first imprisonment by Dr Mahathir in 1998 to 2004. This is tantamount to torture and inhumane treatment in violation of our obligations under human rights law.”
Sivarasa also noted that family members were not allowed to touch Anwar and could only speak to him through a telephone across a glass wall. Such family visits in prison are restricted to once a week.
He said lawyers had visited Anwar in Sungai Buloh Prison more than 18 times but were restricted to just one hour, once a week. “85 visits by lawyers outside court is a false statement, a fiction – no such thing has happened.
“The only contact with lawyers outside court is when lawyers are allowed to see Anwar when he is brought to court for court proceedings he is involved in. That is his basic right as a party in court.”
Sivarasa noted that Anwar had at least 16 ongoing matters in different courts and this restriction has made it impossible for his lawyers to effectively represent him and he has been forced to act for himself in some of his cases.
Sivarasa said Zahid should have informed Parliament that Georgetown University had made it clear that their doctors could only treat Anwar in the United States and the question of treating Anwar here never arose.
“Zahid should therefore not make meaningless offers that are quite irrelevant.”