'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.