KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s lawyer today insisted that the government allow the jailed opposition politician to be warded or sent to the hospital regularly for intensive physiotherapy, claiming that the alleged denial of medical treatment for Anwar’s shoulder injury amounts to “torture”.
Anwar’s lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah disputed Bernama’s November 6 report of the Health Ministry purportedly awaiting confirmation from the PKR de facto leader on whether to go for a surgery, saying that was not the actual concern.
“The real issue is why the intensive physiotherapy that was recommended and given to Datuk Seri Anwar when he was hospitalised is still denied to him until this day. This has caused him to suffer great pain and will have long-term effects on his health.
“This denial is a form of torture, which goes against international laws and fundamental human rights,” the Subang MP from PKR said in a statement today.
Sivarasa then demanded that Anwar be hospitalised or be allowed to receive the necessary treatment thrice a week at the hospital, noting that there was no reason why this could not be done now as was carried out during Anwar’s first imprisonment from 1998 to 2004.
While acknowledging that Anwar had sustained his shoulder injury two years before his current five-year jail term, Sivarasa claimed that the injury had worsened due to poor prison conditions in his first three weeks and the alleged denial of his rights to intensive physiotherapy.
Accusing the Health Ministry of lying and painting an inaccurate picture that physiotherapy was not one of the recommended options for Anwar, Sivarasa noted that the ministry’s recent remarks were at odds with the doctors’ February evaluation of his condition and the treatment over four to five days at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) in June and July.
Sivarasa cited HKL sports expert doctor Dr Arshad Puji’s July 10 report confirming that Anwar had before his detention chosen conservative treatment or intense physiotherapy, which he said was given daily to Anwar at the hospital and was noted to be the most suitable method.
Following Anwar’s second hospitalisation, HKL orthopaedic surgeon Datuk Dr Fazir Mohamad’s July 13 report similarly suggested physiotherapy treatment for Anwar along with painkillers and plaster, Sivarasa said.
Dr Fadzir confirmed that daily intensive physiotherapy was provided to Anwar during his June hospitalisation until his discharge on June 5, and also noted that Anwar was again hospitalised on July 7 for continued treatment following evaluation on June 25.
Since Anwar started serving his five-year jail term from February 10, a physiotherapist had only been sent to prison ten times to conduct ultrasound checks and exercises on Anwar’s shoulder, Sivarasa said when comparing the visits to the level of treatment provided at HKL.
