Special treatment for Anwar? PKR says balderdash
PKR has refuted as baseless Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed's claim that imprisoned PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is being allowed special treatment for his health not given to other prisoners.
PKR Padang Serai MP N Surendran said it was recommended by experts that Anwar be given intensive physiotherapy two to three times a week but by Nur Jazlan's own admission, Anwar has received only 10 physiotherapy sessions in the course of his imprisonment.
"And even then, save on rare occasions, he was not been taken to hospital for the physiotherapy sessions. The sessions have been carried out without proper facilities in prison. Is this special treatment?"
When grilled by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) at the Dewan Rakyat today, Nur Jazlan said that Anwar has been given special treatment by the government on humanitarian grounds, something which the rest of the 50,000 prisoners are not able to enjoy.
"I want to stress here that there are 50,000 prisoners nationwide... they are supposed to receive equal treatment.
"But in the case of Anwar, he is given the opportunity to conduct various activities like physiotherapy and Friday prayers."
In his statement later, Surendran also refuted as misleading Nur Jazlan's claim that Anwar has not consented to surgery.
Bare minimum not given
"Nur Jazlan fails to mention the long delays and constant pleas from Anwar and his family for diagnosis and treatment for his serious shoulder condition.
"Nur Jazlan claims that access to lawyers has been given 65 times during his imprisonment but fails to mention that Anwar has 16 different pending cases in court.
"These cases requires extensive communication with lawyers. He offers no explanation as to why Anwar's access to lawyers has been arbitrarily reduced to only one hour per week."
He urged the authorities not to give such unacceptable excuses, and instead ensure adequate medical attention and legal access for Anwar.
He said they are not asking for special treatment but for the bare minimum that every imprisoned person is legally entitled to.
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