Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, wife of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, made a personal and impassioned plea to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today - 'Let my husband go abroad for urgent surgery for his slipped disc'.

She urged Abdullah to set aside politics and consider Anwar's need for overseas endoscopic surgery for his back on humanitarian grounds.

"In many of his recent interviews, we heard the prime minister speak about his wife and his mother. He showed that he has a humane side. Just like we empathise with his wife, the same people also empathise with my husband," said Wan Azizah, who is leader of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Abdullah's wife, Endon Mahmood, had gone to Los Angeles repeatedly last year for radiation treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

At a press conference held at the Parliament's lobby, Wan Azizah also rebutted Health Minister Chua Soi Lek's statement made yesterday.

Chua had argued that Anwar should take responsibility for his worsening health condition and bear the consequences of not undergoing surgery. He reiterated the government's stand that Anwar would not be allowed to go overseas but could have the operation done locally instead.

"As a prisoner, the welfare of Anwar is the responsibility of the internal security minister and the premier, not the health minister," said Wan Azizah.

"Therefore, we appeal to Abdullah (who is also internal security minister) to review the health minister's decision and immediately consider Anwar's application for a surgery of his choice."

'Bad experiences'

According to Wan Azizah, the jailed politician has not changed his mind on seeking surgery overseas.

She and her children had visited Anwar yesterday's evening at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and had informed him about the government's refusal for the surgery to be done overseas.

The PKR president said her family's insistence on getting an overseas surgery was due to the 'bad experiences' Anwar had suffered after he was beaten up by then police chief Abdul Rahim Noor while in custody six years ago.

Anwar had initially sustained the back injury during a horse riding accident in 1996 and later claimed that it was aggravated by the assault he received from Rahim.

Wan Azizah said another reason was the 'misleading report' issued by a government representative to the Inter Parliamentary Union last year regarding Anwar's health condition.

In the report, a government member of parliament claimed that Anwar had been provided with 'excellent' medical treatment.

"Why does he insist on overseas surgery? Because after being treated like this, he should have the right to choose the treatment of his choice," she said.

Wan Azizah, nevertheless, did not completely rule out the possibility of Anwar having the surgery in Malaysia.

"We are dealing with a difficult situation. We have to weigh the pros and cons on whether to go for a high risk surgery here ... we may have to take a gamble," she said, adding that she needed more time to discuss the matter with her family.

She also reiterated that Anwar did not intend to question the standards of the Malaysian medical profession by insisting on overseas surgery. He believed that he would face a lower risk for the endoscopic surgery if it was done in Germany.

She explained that the specialist of Anwar's choice, Dr Thomas Hoogland from Munich, had conducted over 8,000 similar surgeries.

Still hopeful

Wan Azizah also revealed that the hospital would be releasing Anwar's Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans results.

Anwar's counsel had complained that the hospital had withheld the ex-deputy premier's medical records , which are needed to obtain a second medical opinion.

The hospital has also yet to approve the family's request to allow Anwar's personal doctor to conduct an examination on him.

Anwar was rushed to hospital from the Sungai Buloh prison late Tuesday's night after his condition deteriorated .

On Saturday, results of a MRI scan revealed that Anwar has spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing of spaces in the spine (backbone) that results in pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, creating excruciating pain.

This is believed to have worsened his slipped disc condition and has affected his kidney and neurological functions.

His recent bout of poor health came to light when he was examined by an urologist at the hospital after he complained of severe discomfort when easing himself.

Anwar is currently serving a nine-year jail sentence for sodomy and is awaiting a Federal Court decision next Thursday on his final appeal against the conviction.

He has already completed a six-year sentence for corruption.