PETALING JAYA, Aug 19 — Prison officials have imposed additional restrictions on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following claims of a conspiracy to unseat Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar claimed today.
The Lembah Pantai MP alleged that authorities have tried to stop opposition leaders Lim Kit Siang, Rafizi Ramli and Selangor Mentri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali from approaching or even seeing Anwar during his rare court appearances.
“Meetings with his lawyers have also been reduced from the usual two hours to 45 minutes and Anwar’s access to the library has also been restricted with him mostly spending time in his cell.
“Family visits have also been made short and Anwar’s written statements for media are also restricted,” Nurul Izzah added.
These added curbs began following claims of a supposed plot involving parliamentarians from both sides of the political aisle to sign statutory declarations pledging to support a vote of no-confidence against Najib, she said.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week claimed that an Umno leader, whom he declined to name, was trying to get lawmakers from both sides of the political divide to sign SDs to show that they had the majority voice to move a no-confidence vote against Najib in the Dewan Rakyat.
Nurul Izzah today questioned why Anwar was being punished over the alleged conspiracy.
“It really pains us when there is so much political issue taking place. He is effectively no longer Malaysia's opposition leader, so why the need to clamp down further to the point that his health is being affected?
“I would like to think there is some decency left in the Cabinet,” Nurul Izzah said, in pleading Putrajaya to provide adequate medical access to her father, at least.
Nurul Izzah claimed that the Ahmad Zahid has also not answered the opposition's letter to him, pleading that Anwar be given access to proper medical treatment for his shoulder injury as his doctor concluded that the care he received in prison was inadequate.
Anwar is said to have irregular blood pressure, a 4cm growth on his kidney, gastritis as well as a shoulder muscle tear and chronic arthritis, both of which require intensive physiotherapy.
He was sentenced to five years in prison for sodomy by the Federal Court in February.
His family as well as PKR have been lobbying for his freedom claiming the charges were politically-motivated.
Also present at the press conference were PKR MPs Datuk Johari Abdul and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid who urged Putrajaya to set aside political differences and provide Anwar the medical care he badly needs.
