Anwar Ibrahim departed from the Kuala Lumpur International airport at 12.15am on Saturday, Sept 4, 2004. He was welcomed on his arrival in Frankfurt by the Malaysian Ambassador, Kamal Ismaun, before flying off on another plane to Munich, reaching his destination at 9.30am local time. Anwar complained of pain during the flight to Munich.

On arrival at the Munich Airport, he was rushed to the Alpha Clinic by special transport arranged by the clinic. Anwar was met at Alpha Clinic by Dr Thomas Hoogland and his staff. Hoogland quickly carried out an examination of Anwar. This was followed by a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan and an X-ray, which confirmed that Anwar was suffering from serious 'spinal stenosis', and required urgent surgery.

At 3pm on Sept 6, Hoogland began the spinal operation using local anaesthesia and the 'minimal invasive procedure' technique which was a speciality of the Alpha Clinic. The complicated operation took 1 hour 45 minutes to complete. Hoogland was assisted by Dr Halili Rahmat, a neuro surgeon from the Tawakal Hospital, Kuala Lumpur.

The operation was successful in widening the nerve opening between the 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae which had been pinching the spinal cord, causing Anwar to be in constant pain and incapable of moving about without a wheel chair. After the operation, Anwar was transferred to a recovery room and placed under special observation for three hours.

After that, Anwar could walk a distance of 10 steps before requiring a wheel chair and the aid of several nurses to take him back to his special room. Anwar will undergo a rehabilitation programme and theraphy for some weeks under the care of a physiotheraphy specialist, Andrew van Broekhoven.

A most comprehensive schedule lasting till Sept 25, 2004 has been prepared with Anwar undergoing activities and the rehabilitation for an hour in the morning and three hours in the afternoon.

Foreign visitors

While in the clinic, Anwar received visits from foreign visitors, old friends, Malaysian students and Malaysians working and serving in Germany and other parts of Europe. Among the visitors were the former Indonesian president BJ Habibie, well-known Islamic scholars Shaikh Taha Jabir al-Alwani and Dr Jamal Barzinji, President of International Crisis Group, Gareth Evan, the Imam of the Munich Islamic Centre, Al Dessouki and the translator of the Quran into German, Ahmad von Denffer.

Others who called on Anwar included the chairperson of the Omar Ibn Al Khattab Foundation, Dr Mahmoud M Dakhil and former representative of the Commonwealth Development Committee in Kuala Lumpur, John Langton as well as Malaysian leaders including PAS president Haji Abdul Hadi Awang, PAS deputy spiritual leader Harun Din, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders Kamarul Baharin Abbas and his wife, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Johari Abdul, N Gobalakrisnan, Dr Hatta Ramli, Mohamad Sabu and others..

Anwar also received visits from the chairperson of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and former German Minister of Economy, Dr Otto Graf Lambsdorff, and former president of Indonesia, Abdul Rahman Wahid (Gus Dur) at the end of September.

Also not left out were Umno leaders, including several supreme council members and divisional heads, who visited and contacted Anwar, and stated their support for his struggle.

Telephone calls and letters were also received from world leaders who expressed their relief and happiness that Anwar has been freed. The international community placed high hopes on him to play a bigger role internationally, in particular, with regards the problems of post-Sept 11 security.

They were confident that Anwar was capable of helping to set up a dialogue between Islam and the West. Among those who telephoned Anwar was the renowned Islamic scholar, Dr Yusof Qardawi, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin, Saudi Finance Minister Dr Ibrahim Al - Asaf, Sudan Foreign Minister Mustaffa Osman and Japanese Premier Junichiro Koizumi.

Others who called included the advisor to the Prime Mnister of Turkey, Prof Ahmet Davutoglu, World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn, former Philippines president Joseph Estrada, former US vice-president Al Gore and former Philippines presidential advisor Joe Almonte.

On Sept 7, Anwar also received a special message from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius, Paul Raymond Berenger, who invited him to visit Mauritius. Former Thai Foreign Minister, MA Surin Halim Pitsuwan also sent a message through the Thai Consul-General in Munich, Barbara Steinle.

A torrent of e-mails

The Alpha Clinic was also inundated by a torrent of e-mails from various parties who prayed for Anwar's recovery and safety. Anwar is working on replies for all the mails.

Anwar also received invitations from several universities and research centres including the Shaikh Taha and John Hopkins University through a letter from the Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies, Jessica P Einhorn, dated Sept 8, 2004 to become the Distinguished Visiting Scholar in its Foreign Policy Institute.

The honours were paid to Anwar based on the major contributions he has made as a leading Malaysian statesman and world leader.

Similar invitations were also received from Oxford University and Harvard University. Anwar is giving them due consideration.

Since arriving in Munich, Anwar has been the focus of the international media, all trying to have special interviews with him. Reports of his release made headline news in world papers like the International Herald Tribune, Financial Times, New York Times and also electronic media like Reuters Television, CNN, Al-Jazeera, ABC, Associated Press Television News (APTN), NHK, Deutsche Welle - German International Broadcasting Service, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty and Radio Hong Kong.

Anwar also received significant coverage in international magazines like Time, Newsweek, Far Eastern Economic Review, Der Spiegel, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and NZZ am Sonntag - the leading Swiss newspaper.

Anwar was the special guest on the Talk Asia program aired by CNN on Sept 21, 2004. That episode of Talk Asia was specially approved by the CNN headquarters in Atlanta. A producer and a technical team was flown in from Hong Kong, led by Ja Wuttithamrong.

Anwar was also featured on the Asia Pacific Focus program produced by ABC and 'The Editors' program jointly produced by ABC and a Singaporean production company. On Sept 15, 2004, CNN aired a live interview with Anwar at 8.15pm Malaysian time.

Closed door meeting

Anwar also had a closed door meeting with leaders and members of PKR who were in Munich. He clarified the role which he can play on his return to Malaysia.

At the same time, as advisor to the party, Anwar urged the leaders to take proactive steps to stabilise the party including developing the party's wings at every level, strengthening the party organisation, finding new approaches which are smart and realistic to attract wider support from the younger generation and professionals.

Anwar also stressed the importance of discipline and leadership training in the party. He advised that the party must remain inclusive and proactive. He said that he would try to attend the inaugural congress of PKR which is scheduled to be held from December 17-19, 2004.

Regarding his future, Anwar adopted approach of first listening and evaluating the political situation. The Malaysian and international political landscape has changed greatly and needed serious and careful appreciation. Anwar reiterated that his stance was to continue with the reformasi agenda and uniting the Malaysian race thorough a fresh economic program for the good of the rakyat.

Anwar is banned from holding any political party post formally following the Sept 15 decision of the Federal Court. Even so, that did not mean that ruling power can prevent Anwar from being active and making his principled stand on current issues.

On the possibility of seeking a royal pardon from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong as suggested by his lawyers, Anwar has not dicussed it with them yet at this time. He still rejected the judgement, which had been confirmed by the Federal Court, in connection with his corruption case because he was certain that he is not guilty.

Anwar also feels that if the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi does not influence the palace in the royal pardon process, as had been made public by the prime minister recently, he will be granted the pardon.

Regarding his plans after treatment in the Alpha Clinic, Anwar proposes to fulfil his umrah (minor pilgrimage) before returning to Malaysia. In any case, he needs to get prior confirmation from his doctor that his physical condition was strong enough for his plans.

The Saudi government, through its Finance Minster Ibrahim Al-Asaf, has expressed its readiness on Sept 16 to receive Anwar as its guest for the purpose of the umrah.

AZMIN ALI is a vice-president of PKR. He has been with Anwar in Germany ever since the former deputy premier was warded there.