Representatives of political parties and civil society groups today urged the government to allow jailed former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to go to Germany for surgery to correct a slipped disc and spinal stenosis.

They were at a press conference at Parliament House today, to join Anwar's wife and Parti Keadilan Rakyat Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in highlighting his predicament.

Anwar has been asking the government to allow him to seek proper treatment in Germany but the health ministry reiterated the government's stand last week - that he would not be allowed to travel abroad for endoscopic surgery.

DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said many in her constituency had been asking about Anwar's health.

"They are very sympathetic to his condition. He should be allowed his right to go abroad because he is a victim of political conspiracy at a high level," she said.

PAS Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub said Anwar should be allowed to obtain treatment of his choice.

National Human Rights Society (Hakam) secretary-general Elizabeth Wong raised the issue of principle.

"It is not about feeling sorry for Anwar or humanitarian grounds, but about the fact that nothing in the law can stop him from seeking treatment abroad," she said.

Personal doctors

Anwar, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence for sodomy, was admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur last week after complaining of severe pain.

He was checked by his personal doctors Dr Halili Rahmat and Dr Husin Awang yesterday who recommended an immediate intravenous urogram (a check of the kidney and bladder).

"The doctors involved have agreed that his health has deteriorated," Wan Azizah said.

Anwar's personal doctors, who have confirmed that he has difficulty urinating, have also compared the findings of an examination yesterday with X-ray and MRI scan results obtained earlier.

Wan Azizah also pointed out that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wife, Endon Mahmood, had been receiving treatment for breast cancer in Los Angeles.

"The fact that he has allowed his wife to go to the US for treatment doesn't mean that he has no faith in the local medical profession. We are in the same predicament, I appeal to him again on that ground and I hope he will consider our appeals and applications," she reiterated.

Up to Pak Lah

Meanwhile, human rights group Suaram said in a statement that the prime minister has the authority to act on Anwar's case.

"(Abdullah) must decide whether Anwar is expendable as a political cost, at the risk of not only his government's image as a principled, caring and clean government, but also his own heart and soul," said co-ordinator Eric Paulsen.

He reminded Abdullah that Anwar was beaten by former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor while the jailed politician was hooded and handcuffed following his arrest in September 1998.

"Anwar has claimed that his slipped disc condition worsened after the beating. For this reason, the government as the employer of the former IGP must bear additional responsibility over the state of Anwar's health condition," said Paulsen.

"Anwar does not have confidence in the local hospital authorities, and rightly so because his handling so far by them - including improper treatment, denial of the extent of his condition, refusal to release his medical record - has thus far not spoken well of them as an independent and caring medical care giver that is beholden to the Hippocratic oath. Why should Anwar trust, in all good conscience, that fouled system with his life?"

While on a visit to the US yesterday, Abdullah told CNN in an interview that there was "no reason" for Anwar to go abroad for surgery as "we have experienced and capable doctors".