Surgery, rehab after 10 years in jail: Don't compare me with Najib, says Anwar

 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has hit back at Najib Abdul Razak's supporters for equating his treatment while in prison with the former prime minister's.

In a press conference in Bangkok yesterday, Anwar said he was only given access to a rehabilitation facility following major surgery on his shoulder after spending more than 10 years in solitary confinement.

He pointed out that the situation was completely different compared to Najib's, who was sent to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) five days ago, barely a month after he began his 12-year jail sentence at the Kajang Prison.

"Some say Anwar did stay at the rehab centre... Look, I was given that facility at a rehabilitation centre after serving more than 10 years in solitary confinement, in lock-up, in prison.

"Number two, I was only sent to rehab after a major shoulder surgery, then I was given (the facility)," he told the press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) in Bangkok.

Anwar, who is the chairperson of the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition, was answering media questions on controversies surrounding Najib's imprisonment, where the latter was allegedly accorded special treatment.

"So, do not ever compare my experience with Najib's. If he wants to be treated the same way, he serves the first 10 years then goes to the rehab centre, if there is a surgery," he said.

Najib was sent to jail on August 23 after the Federal Court held his convictions in seven corruption cases related to SRC International.

The ex-premier had been in and out of hospital after being sent to jail. Two weeks ago, Najib was sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) over stomach ulcers - which his family claims were stress induced. He was later discharged but was re-admitted to HKL last week after he fell ill again due to blood pressure issues.

The Prisons Department on Wednesday confirmed that Najib was moved to the CRH on Monday but assured that he would be sent back to Kajang Prison once given medical clearance.

Authorities did not reveal the details of why Najib had to be admitted to CRH, citing patient confidentiality.

‘What utter rubbish’

During yesterday's press conference, Anwar said he did not want to interfere in Najib's case, but he was called to give a response.

Many had drawn a comparison between him and Najib as Anwar was also sent to the CRH during his second prison stint.

Anwar said he also does not want to make an issue out of Najib's transfer to hospital if doctors indeed found him unwell.

"There is some humanitarian issue involved. If he is really sick, and the doctors ascertain he is unwell, I will not want to make an issue.

"I am responding because these people tend to say why can't Najib be sent to a rehab centre when Anwar was given the same treatment.

"What utter rubbish," he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng lambasted MCA leaders for supporting Najib in getting special treatment while imprisoned.

Training his sights at MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker, who yesterday claimed that Najib detractors wanted to see the jailed leader tortured and suffer in prison, Lim said the issue at hand is Najib being accorded special treatment that was never given Harapan leaders who were jailed.

"If Najib is tortured in prison, Harapan leaders, including ex-prisoners like Anwar and myself, will be the first to defend him.

"But has MCA any evidence that Najib is being tortured? The issue is the special treatment given to Najib that was never accorded to Anwar or me when we were in Sungai Buloh and Kajang Prison, respectively," he said.

Lim said Najib is probably the first prisoner in the country to have been admitted to HRC within the first month in prison and questioned if MCA would now fight for all prisoners to have the same privileges. - Mkini