Pakatan Harapan's incarcerated de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim will undergo surgery on Sunday to treat his longstanding shoulder problems.

At a press conference in Anwar's family home in Segambut today, his daughters Nurul Nuha, Nurul Ilham, and Nurul Iman said the surgery could not be deferred any longer after a motor vehicle accident on Sept 22 aggravated his injury.

He will be admitted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for pre-surgery evaluation tomorrow.

The three sisters said the family has full confidence in the hospital's medical staff, but urged the government to provide them with three guarantees.

They demanded that the government would not interfere with Anwar's treatment, and urged that he would be provided full access to the hospital's rehabilitation facilities.

This is because the facilities available at Sungai Buloh Prison are very limited.

Lastly, they urged the government to allow human rights groups access to Anwar throughout his treatment and rehabilitation.

Anwar’s shoulder injury was originally due to an accident in 2014 in Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Nurul Nuha said the pain was managed through exercise and physiotherapy, but prison conditions had made it difficult to keep up with the regime.

Anwar’s five-year prison sentence on charges of sodomy started in Feb 2015. He has maintained his innocence and claimed that the charges were politically motivated.

The family said that since September that year, he began to complain that his condition is worsening.

At the time, they said, Georgetown University in the US had offered to conduct the surgery for Anwar, but the proposal was rejected by the government.

Fearing interference in Anwar’s recovery, the family at the time opted for a conservative treatment regimen comprising physiotherapy and pain management, instead of surgery.

This was until the accident on Sept 22, when the prison transport ferrying him from Kuala Lumpur Hospital back to prison was rammed into by an escort vehicle following behind it.

“The impact of the accident has clearly aggravated his shoulder injury which required regular on-going physiotherapy. He was administered strong painkillers for the pain management.

“In the weeks since the accident, his pain levels have become intolerable. Any slight movement of the right shoulder or even prolonged writing causes pain.

“Anwar has had no choice but to reconsider the option of surgery which is now necessary due to continuous pain. We, as the family, remain deeply concerned for the health and safety of our father as the operation will come with risks due to the circumstances surrounding him,” said the family in a statement jointly read by the three sisters.

They added that Anwar is also unable to lift his right arm above shoulder level, forcing him to use his other arm to comb his hair. He also could not hold a book at certain angles.

Nurul Nuha said the family is also lobbying for a rehabilitation period of three to four months, because that is the time needed for Anwar to retrain his muscles after surgery.

The matter is being discussed with hospital authorities, and the government would have to approve the plan before it can proceed.

Asked what human rights groups would be involved, she said the family intends to invite the International Federation for Human Rights, and the UN High Commission for Human Right’s special rapporteur on health, among others.