Anwar free to visit ailing mother

Anwar free to visit ailing mother

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim went on a hunger strike for three days before authorities allowed him to visit his ailing mother in hospital, his brother said Monday.

"Anwar refused to eat for three days. On Oct. 11, the prison wardens finally took him to visit his mother," said Idrus Ibrahim, Anwar's elder brother.

Idrus said Anwar, who is serving 15 years for corruption and sodomy, was angry when authorities rejected his plea to visit his 74-year old mother.

Anwar's mother, Che Yan, was admitted to the University Hospital in Kuala Lumpur on Sept. 4. Doctors said she was suffering complications related to heart, blood pressure and kidneys. She was discharged from hospital on Oct. 14.