'No trace of arsenic poisoning' in Anwar

'No trace of arsenic poisoning' in Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Three week after he was hospitalized,
clinical tests have so far shown that jailed former deputy
premier Anwar Ibrahim was not poisoned with arsenic, a minister
said on Sunday, claiming the allegations were a pre-election
ploy.

"So far, investigations conducted using domestic and foreign
laboratory facilities showed that (Anwar) has not suffered
poisoning," Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was
quoted as saying by the state Bernama news agency.

Abdullah, who is also home minister in charge of police, said
he was awaiting a full report from the hospital and that police
investigations were expected to be completed over the next two to
three days.

"Upon completion of the (full) test report, we'll be able to
know. We can't lie," he said.

Abdullah, a former foreign minister appointed to the post in
January, said claims Anwar had been poisoned were part of a ploy
ahead of impending general elections due next June but widely
expected to be held earlier.

"What purpose does it serve ... to misinform the people with
sensationalized lies just to shock the people and create a public
uprising," he added.

Anwar's family and lawyers were not immediately available for
comment. His wife Wan Azizah has recently told Malaysians "not to
be surprised" if tests showed no traces of arsenic in him.

A hospital authority reportedly said Sunday that the results
of all medical tests on Anwar were obtained on Wednesday and had
been relayed to him.

"We have asked his cooperation to keep it a secret until there
are further developments," National University Hospital director
Khalid Abdul Kadir told the Malay-language newspaper Utusan
Mingguan.

But Anwar wanted to inform his wife about it, said Khalid who
refused to reveal the results. The hospital expects to submit a
report to the high court hearing Anwar's sodomy trial on Monday,
he added.

Anwar, who is serving a six-year jail term for abusing his
power, was hospitalized Sept. 10 after lawyers alleged high
levels of arsenic found in his body indicated a murder attempt.
The court ordered a medical examination and tests.

He returned to court last week but the trial was again
postponed Tuesday after doctors said he suffered from "tension
headaches." Lawyers said the actual hearing was likely to resume
on Wednesday.

Sacked and arrested in September last year, Anwar was jailed
in April and claimed he was the victim of a top-level political
conspiracy.

The New Sunday Times reported that Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad has accused Anwar of failing to declare his assets while
in office.