The Health Ministry “lied” when it said that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim did not need “intensive physiotherapy” for his two-year-old shoulder injury, said his lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah.
“This is shocking, irresponsible and a lie,” he said.
He said the family is not seeking surgery, as claimed, but intensive physiotherapy which is denied to him in jail.
“This worsens his pain and will have long-term impact on his health. It is a form of torture, breaching international law and fundamental human rights,” he said.
He said Anwar should be admitted to hospital for the treatment or taken to hospital at least three times a week for treatment.
“This was allowed when he was first jailed from 1998 to 2004. I don’t see why it cannot be done now,” he said in a statement.
Sivarasa, who is also Subang MP, added that the ministry’s claim that Anwar does not need “intensive” treatment contradicts with Hospital Kuala Lumpur doctors who examined Anwar.
They examined him in February, June and July, he said in a statement.
“His pain worsened because he was denied his fundamental right to intensive physiotherapy as prescribed by doctors.”
According to Sivarasa, HKL specialist Dr Arshad Puji in his report on July 10 said Anwar had undergone “physical and electrical” physiotherapy on top of pain relief medication while admitted to HKL.
“In other words, Anwar went through daily intensive physiotherapy while at hospital with encouraging results,” he said.
HKL orthopaedic surgeon Dr Fazir Mohamad in a separate report dated July 13 said Anwar underwent daily physiotherapy when hospitalised in June “with positive results”.
He added that an independent orthopaedic consultant engaged by the family also confirmed the HKL doctors’ assessment that intensive physiotherapy will prevent further muscle damage.
Instead, he said, Anwar received just 10 sessions of physiotherapy since he was jailed for sodomy last February.
The physiotherapist only taught Anwar exercises he can do himself while in jail and conducted ultrasound treatment, Sivarasa said.
Special facilities in jail cell
An unnamed senior Health Ministry official last week said Anwar's cell at Sungai Buloh Prison has facilities like no other including hot and cold shower, a curtain to ensure privacy, a sit-down toilet, a wall fan and a writing table.
Anwar can move freely along a 50-metre corridor and he can go to an outdoor compound in the evenings, the official told national news agency Bernama .
The official said his physiotherapist has seen Anwar 12 times since he was jailed, while he has met his doctors 78 times.
The panel of experts recommended three options to treat his injury - physiotherapy, a minimally invasive surgery or a shoulder replacement.
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