Jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been placed in the hospital wing of the Sungai Buloh prison since last month.

"After being examined by doctors, Anwar was placed in the prisons wing.

"This happened before he was visited by the Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali on Feb 25," said Prisons Department deputy director Supri Hashim in a press release yesterday.

Supri's press release was in response to several allegations on Anwar's treatment in prison.

On Azmin's visit, Supri said his department had received an application which stated that the visit was in relations to Anwar's role as Selangor economic advisor.

"Our department had studied the application and applied the Prisons Rule 2000 and prisons procedures to allow the visit, since it was in regards to urgent matters.

"Such visits are known as 'special visitations' in accordance to the Prisons Rules 2000, which is also accorded to other detainees in regards to urgent matters such as family matters, inheritance issues and access to lawyers," he said.

Bad back

Anwar's family and lawyers have expressed concern that the conditions in his prison cells could exacerbate his spinal injuries.

His cell is equipped with a two-inch foam mattress on the floor, a bucket for bathing and a squat toilet.

His lawyers said that at the very minimum, Anwar should be given a bed and a "medically appropriate mattress", a chair, a table, a shower and appropriate toilet.

"Anwar cannot bend over or stand up from sitting on the floor without pain and aggravation of his condition," said Anwar's lawyers.