I refer to a letter written by Suresh Gnasegarah, Mandela, Gandhi didn't ask for special treatment .

I am perplexed by Suresh's sheer ignorance of the situation. Anwar has never asked for special treatment. Anwar has never said that the operation cannot be conducted safely in Malaysia. What he merely asks for is his right as an ordinary citizen of the country to opt for a treatment of his choice.

Suhakam, as a protector of human rights in this country, has spelt it out clearly and concisely that he be allowed to have his preferred treatment. What it means is that, one, irrespective of creed and colour, has every right to go anywhere to seek for treatment that he feels best suited to him.

The same way as our prime minister's wife who has been seeking treatment outside the country - because in her opinion that is best for her. This right applies to all. Even Ferdinand Marcos, the one-time dictator of the Philippines, showed compassion by allowing Senator Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino, his foremost political opponent then, to go for his cardiac treatment in the US.

Anwar and family have for so long pleaded with the government to allow him to go to Germany for treatment on their own expense. So the question of who is going to foot the bill does not arise.

It surprises me when Suresh mentions that the government will be 'bending the law' by allowing Anwar to have his treatment overseas. When it is your right, you should be able to exercise it and there is no question of bending the law to allow you to your right.

Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, to my mind, had never said that the operation may be sabotaged if it is done here. As a doctor herself, I believe, she has never doubted the ability of local doctors to perform the operation on her husband.

But, as they say, once beaten twice shy. It is still fresh in the memory, how Anwar came out with a black eye after the assurance from the government that he was in good health. Even then, the then prime minister had no qualms to say that Anwar had injured himself to gain sympathy.

Anwar's worries are not Wan Azizah's alone but many other caring Malaysians' too. One can sympathise with her but has anyone ever thought what she has gone through - she whose husband was arrested by a masked gunmen, with guns pointing everywhere, and then thrown into prison and further assaulted.

By having the treatment for Anwar's back done locally, if anything ever goes wrong, the government will have difficulty explaining the situation to the people. By allowing it to be done overseas, the government will be absolved of any blame..

Anwar's request is not unreasonable. He is merely asking for what is due to him, no more, no less.

Former Lord President Tun Suffian Hashim once remarked that he would very worried to face a Malaysian court when he is not guilty. Can we read Anwar's predicament in between the lines?