Anwar Ibrahim to be hospitalised next week; family seeks access to him

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be warded at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Tuesday and his family have asked for access to the former opposition leader.

Anwar's second daughter, Nurul Nuha, said his father's health has been deteriorating since he was jailed on Jan 10.

"He has lost up to 6kg which is very worrying if it continues," she told a press conference at the PKR headquarters here on Saturday.

Nurul Nuha said she was informed that Anwar needed urgent medical treatment for blood in his stool.

"My father's blood pressure has been irregular and was recently as high as 163/108 despite being on medication," she said.

She added that Anwar's condition was made worse as his right shoulder had not fully recovered from a car accident last year.

She claimed that Anwar had made several requests for medical treatment and hospitalisation which "regrettably have been delayed."

"We acknowledge that he has received a number of visits by doctors from the Ministry of Health who are monitoring his condition," she said.

Nurul Nuha urged Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to allow Anwar to remain in hospital for as long as it takes to enable a thorough evaluation of his health.

"Anything less would be a violation of his rights as a political prisoner," she said.

Anwar's eldest daughter, Nurul Izzah, said the family would cooperate with the authorities in order to be able to see Anwar.

"It is best for us to hold our anger and give our full cooperation with the authorities," said Nurul Izzah, the PKR vice-president.

PKR supreme council member Datuk Johari Abdul said there should not have been delays in Anwar's treatment as the Prisons Act clearly states that every inmate has the right for full access to immediate medical attention.

Anwar was sentenced to five year's jail for sodomising his aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.