PARLIAMENT Anwar Ibrahim's successful entry into Japan for a talk on Feb 26 was due to persistent efforts made by the Foreign Ministry to ensure the opposition leader faced no problems, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said today.

Answering a question from Shamsul Iskandar Akin (PKR-Bukit Katil) in Parliament, Hamzah said the ministry had persistently called the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia to relay the message to the Japanese Foreign Ministry to ensure Anwar's entry.

Anwar was barred from entering Japan on Jan 19.

"We know Anwar is a great opposition leader. We know when he gives his speech in Japan, he would protect the nation's image," Hamzah said, while appearing to be sarcastic.

He denied the government had a "hidden hand" in Anwar's barring from Japan in January.

"If there are hidden hands, definitely we would be able to do it again to prevent him from entering," he said.            

However, Anwar soon stood up after the deputy minister's answer and asked Hamzah not to "mislead Parliament".

"I did not write any letter to Wisma Putra. I entered Japan without any problems, without filling up any forms," he said.

To this, Hamzah retorted that the Foreign Ministry did not contact Anwar, but instead wrote letters to the Japanese Embassy so that Anwar's travel to the country can be smooth.