Jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will finally be hospitalised at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) next Tuesday after long delays by the Prisons Department to requests for proper medical attention.
 
"We were informed two days ago that he will be admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, June 2, for check up, observation and medical treatment," said PKR's Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul at a press conference today.
 
Also present at the press conference at PKR's headquarters in Petaling Jaya were Anwar's daughters Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah, Nurul Nuha and Nurul Hana.

Johari said Anwar's admission to hospital comes amid his erratic blood pressure, as well as the presence of blood in his stool.

The PKR whip said Anwar has lost six kilogrammes since starting his prison sentence in February.

"More detailed medical checks are required on his (Anwar's) stool sample which has blood in it.

"Maybe his intestines are bleeding or perhaps it is the food; we don't know," said Johari.

He added that Anwar's blood pressure was also as high as 163/108, even though he is already on medication.

Basic human right

Furthermore, Johari said Anwar is also suffering discomfort from an old injury on his right shoulder and had been requesting for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan.

"The government's delay by several weeks to fulfil a simple request for an MRI scan on his shoulder is regrettable," he said.

Johari, together with Anwar's daughters, also appealed to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to see to Anwar's medical needs and to allow him to remain in hospital for as long as necessary.

"Any failure by the government to fulfil this would be a violation of Anwar's human rights, for access to medical treatment," said Johari.