Former jailed deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is putting himself in danger by delaying his surgery and must take full responsibility for negative consequences that arise, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng told the Parliament today.

A panel of doctors have repeatedly advised Anwar on the side effects of such a delay, said the minister, adding that the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) had no objection if the surgery was carried out by German specialist, Dr Thomas Hoogland.

"If the German specialist cannot make it, a panel of local doctors is willing to perform Anwar's microsurgery ," said Chua.

The minister also told the House that the KLH had informed Anwar last Friday the hospital was willing to perform the microscopic disectomy surgery on his spine and was awaiting his decision.

Extraordinary privilege

Chua was responding to Barisan Nasional member of parliament (MP) for Beluran Ronald Kiandee's query on why Anwar was given the 'extraordinary privilege' of choosing his own doctor.

The minister criticised Hoogland for violating professional medical ethics by making press statements belittling local specialists.

Chua cited a medical conference held in Langkawi last year when a renowned American orthopedic specialist had said that doctors in Malaysia are of international standard and Malaysians do not have to travel abroad for spinal surgery.

The question of Anwar seeking treatment abroad "does not arise", said Chua, adding that the latter was given permission to choose his own doctor on compassionate grounds provided the surgery was done here.

The conditions set are in line with the Prisons Ordinance 2000, he said.

Keadilan MP for Permatang Pauh Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar's wife, defended Hoogland and queried if the government was trying to "trivialise" her husband's medical condition.

Wan Azizah said Hoogland, who has carried some 8,000 operations and owns a spinal clinic, was only commenting on micro-surgical techniques.

Life and death

The Prisons Ordinance does allow prisoners to seek medical attention overseas if they cannot be treated locally, she added.

At this point, House speaker Mohamad Zahir Ismail asked Wan Azizah to state her question to which she replied: "I am sorry, this is my husband and this is also a matter of life and death. Please forgive me, it is not often that I speak."

"I would like to request the Minister not to make this decision final. If this is the government's decision, then it is a very inhuman decision," she said.

Chua responded by saying that Anwar's issue has been dealt with compassion and explained that normally an ill prisoner is only permitted to stay in hospital for a period of 40 to 45 days only besides being warded in third class and handcuffed to the bed.

Anwar, however, has stayed for a period of 143 days in a first class ward without being handcuffed, he said.

The Sungai Buloh prison had also been equipped to treat Anwar since January this year and a medical panel was also set-up to provide conservative treatment, added Chua.

Because of Anwar, Hoogland was issued his certificate of practise within one day as well, explained the minister further.

No literature

Chua also said his staff had carried out a search on the Internet on Hoogland and found nothing on him.

"Over the past five years there has not been any literature on this doctor. If he is a specialist, he should have at least one or two reports in the medical journals," said Chua, while backbenchers were heard chanting, "CIA...CIA".

He said Hoogland has only conducted about 300 to 400 surgeries but his main objective was to take Anwar to Germany. "What is his intention?," the minister queried.

"We are not trivialising Anwar's condition and our main concern is his health and we promise to give him the best medical care albeit in a government hospital, a private one or even have Dr Hoogland come here," he said.

However, Chua stated, if Hoogland returned, then he must not go against professional ethics and condemn local hospitals and facilities

Kitchen row

He said Hoogland had discredited HKL by saying "I cannot be expected to operate in a foreign kitchen".

"What is this?...as a patriot, we have to defend our country's dignity," said Chua, amidst the thunderous thumping of tables by backbenchers.

At this point, Wan Azizah once again came to Hoogland's defense saying that his quote was taken out of context.

She said the German doctor did not say HKL was a foreign kitchen but that, 'It's difficult for a chef to cook in a strange kitchen'.

Following this, a row broke out between government and opposition MPs with Wan Azizah defending Hoogland and condemning the government for saying that Anwar was 'pretending' about his ailment.

Speaker Mohamad Zahir stopped the squabbling by ordering the MPs to move on to the next topic.