Minister slams German's comments

Thu, 29 Mar 2001 | Source: AP

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's health minister has urged jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim to dispense with the services of a foreign doctor who said local facilities are inadequate for back surgery the former deputy prime minister needs.

Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said German-based Dr. Thomas Hoogland had insulted Malaysia when he said after visiting facilities in Kuala Lumpur that equipment and staff were not suitable to perform the type of surgery that was the best treatment for Anwar.

"We want to remind him that major surgery and organ transplants have been successfully performed here," Chua was quoted as saying on Wednesday in the New Straits Times newspaper.

Anwar, who is serving jail terms totaling 15 years for corruption and sodomy, has been hospitalized since November with back injuries he claims were caused in part by a beating he received more than two years ago at the hands of a former police chief.

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