Anwar denied surgery overseas

Thu, 25 Jan 2001 | Source: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The Malaysian government said on Wednesday that jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim's request for spinal surgery abroad was unjustified as treatment was available locally.

Anwar, laid up in a government hospital with a slipped disc for nearly two months since being moved from prison, is seeking endoscopic micro spinal surgery (EMS), which he says carries minimal risk but is unavailable in Malaysia.

Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi told reporters that Anwar, who is serving a 15 year jail term on corruption and sodomy convictions, can be treated in Malaysia.

But Anwar says the conventional surgery offered by government doctors is too risky. He wants surgeons at the Alpha-Klinik, a medical center in Munich, Germany, to carry out the operation and has asked the government to allow a specialist from the clinic to visit Malaysia to diagnose him.

View JSON | Print