There are concerns that Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar may be stricken by paralysis as his medical needs in prison are not being met, says his wife, S Indra Devi.
Indra told a press conference in Brickfields today that her husband is suffering from prolapsed disc, a degenerative disc disease of the spinal lumbar, which causes severe back pains.
"Despite four doctors saying what is happening to Uthayakumar, they have refused to give him a pillow and a chair as advised by the doctors.
"He is sleeping on the floor with a very thin foam mattress and is in constant pain. It is gong to lead to him to paralysis... I don't know," said a teary Indra.
She said a prison officer had also said a pillow was had been handed to him but when she spoke to her husband it turned out to be untrue.
According to her, Uthayakumar who was in the prison's medical cell has been transferred to a solitary confinement block housing "hardcore" criminals.
She also rebutted Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar's claim that Uthayakumar was transferred out of the medical cell after two weeks at his own request.
"All he asked was to be separated from the other tuberculosis prisoners but to remain within the same medical block.
Indra told a press conference in Brickfields today that her husband is suffering from prolapsed disc, a degenerative disc disease of the spinal lumbar, which causes severe back pains.
"Despite four doctors saying what is happening to Uthayakumar, they have refused to give him a pillow and a chair as advised by the doctors."He is sleeping on the floor with a very thin foam mattress and is in constant pain. It is gong to lead to him to paralysis... I don't know," said a teary Indra.
She said a prison officer had also said a pillow was had been handed to him but when she spoke to her husband it turned out to be untrue.
According to her, Uthayakumar who was in the prison's medical cell has been transferred to a solitary confinement block housing "hardcore" criminals.
She also rebutted Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar's claim that Uthayakumar was transferred out of the medical cell after two weeks at his own request.
"All he asked was to be separated from the other tuberculosis prisoners but to remain within the same medical block.
'Hospital treatment needed'
"They deliberately transferred him to solitary confinement together with other criminals to punish him," she said.
In that block, Indra said her husband had to share the same dipper with 20 to 30 other inmates from which they use to eat congee.
Indra, who last visited Uthayakumar (right) on July 6, said her husband is a long time diabetic patient and is susceptible to various infections.
She added that he had been sent to a clinic for his diabetes but the problem of his more severe prolapsed disc is not being properly addressed.
"They keep giving him painkillers and for a diabetic patient, diabetes plus pain killer will lead to kidney failure.
"He should be sent to a Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia where his doctors will know what medicine he needs," she said.
Hindraf legal counsel AS Dhaliwal hit out at Wan Junaidi, telling the deputy minister to verify the facts of Uthayakumar's condition.
"I have myself visited him and his condition is worsening. He (Uthayakumar) personally told me his condition is getting from bad to worse," he said.
In that block, Indra said her husband had to share the same dipper with 20 to 30 other inmates from which they use to eat congee.Indra, who last visited Uthayakumar (right) on July 6, said her husband is a long time diabetic patient and is susceptible to various infections.
She added that he had been sent to a clinic for his diabetes but the problem of his more severe prolapsed disc is not being properly addressed.
"They keep giving him painkillers and for a diabetic patient, diabetes plus pain killer will lead to kidney failure.
"He should be sent to a Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia where his doctors will know what medicine he needs," she said.
Hindraf legal counsel AS Dhaliwal hit out at Wan Junaidi, telling the deputy minister to verify the facts of Uthayakumar's condition.
"I have myself visited him and his condition is worsening. He (Uthayakumar) personally told me his condition is getting from bad to worse," he said.
Letter to home ministry planned
Dhaliwal said he will write a letter to the home ministry for Uthayakumar's medical needs to be properly met.
Asked whether Indra (left) would seek help from Uthayakumar's brother, Waythamoorthy, now deputy minister in the prime minister's department, her curt reply was: "I have nothing to say about him".
Uthayakumar was on June 5 jailed for two years and six months for sedition for his remarks on discrimination against the Indian community.
Prior to this, he was also detained for one and a half years under the Internal Security Act for similar reasons.
Asked whether Indra (left) would seek help from Uthayakumar's brother, Waythamoorthy, now deputy minister in the prime minister's department, her curt reply was: "I have nothing to say about him".Uthayakumar was on June 5 jailed for two years and six months for sedition for his remarks on discrimination against the Indian community.
Prior to this, he was also detained for one and a half years under the Internal Security Act for similar reasons.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.