Malaysia mulls inquiry into Anwar injuries

Malaysia mulls inquiry into Anwar injuries

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday he will consider demands for an independent inquiry into injuries suffered by sacked minister Anwar Ibrahim in police custody.

His comments came as an ally in the ruling 14-party National Front coalition joined a growing chorus of criticism of the police inquiry, marking a rare break in ranks of the alliance.

The Malaysian People's Movement Party, or Parti Gerakan, said in a statement it "strongly feels" it was "not acceptable" that the person or persons responsible for the injuries were not identified, or an explanation given on the cause of injuries. The party has a stronghold in the northern state of Penang.

Anwar, opposition leaders and rights activists had earlier denounced the government for the delays in the three-month investigation by top police officers.

In his first comments on the controversy, Mahathir said the government would look into demands that it set up an independent body to investigate the injuries.

But he said he had not thought about when an independent commission of inquiry would be set up and he would have to study the matter first.

"If that is everybody's desire, we'll have to consider it," the national Bernama news agency quoted him as telling reporters after an official function in the capital.

"I read that the investigation is not complete. Statements have yet to be recorded from several other people," he said.

"Well, the police have been generally blamed but we will have to find out in detail. Surely we cannot blame the whole police force," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Calls by the opposition and rights groups for Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah to resign mounted after he confirmed on Tuesday that police had injured Anwar after he was arrested in September. Mohtar said no assailant had been identified.

Anwar appeared in court in late September with a black eye and bruises on his neck and hands. He said he was blindfolded and then beaten unconscious on the night he was arrested.

Images of Malaysia's former prime-minister-in-waiting with a blackened eye sparked international outrage, and Mahathir, who is also home (interior) minister in charge of the police, ordered a police investigation.

Mohtar said the investigation was still not complete and he ordered a special police team to question senior officers, including Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Abdul Rahim Noor.

Gerakan said in its statement: "Parti Gerakan sincerely hopes that the report be concluded soon so as to restore the public's confidence in the police force which has sunk to a low level with the appearance of Anwar Ibrahim with a black eye following his detention under police custody."

"After four months, they still haven't interviewed the IGP. I'm shocked," Anwar said on Wednesday before his sex and corruption trial resumed at the capital's High Court.

He was talking aloud after reading a newspaper report on Mohtar's comments.

After his trial adjourned for the day, Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, criticized Mahathir for saying in September that his former deputy might have inflicted the injuries on himself.

"He ought to apologize for the allegation," Wan Azizah said in a statement she read to reporters outside the courthouse. She called on Mahathir to accept responsibility for the police actions as he was also home (interior) minister.

Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang called the beating a "heinous crime without criminals".