FAC News - Tuesday, October 22, 2002 8:35 AM

IPU asks that Anwar Ibrahim be allowed surgery in Germany

The Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has passed a Resolution asking that Anwar Ibrahim be allowed to undergo surgery abroad for his spinal injury.

(Full text of the IPU Resolution can be read here).

In its 27 September 2002 Resolution, the IPU said it deeply regrets the dismissal by the Federal Court of Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal in the “corruption case”, all the more so given the Court’s strong emphasis on the right to defence in its judgment on Zainur Zakaria’s appeal.

IPU argued that, in the light of the Zainur Zakaria judgment, the court, in disallowing evidence to the effect that the prosecution attempted to fabricate evidence against Anwar, has not given Anwar a full opportunity to clear himself of the charges against him.

The IPU added that it continues to believe that Anwar’s prosecution and sentencing may well have been politically motivated.

While the IPU acknowledges that, under the Malaysian Prison Act, prisoners are not entitled to medical treatment abroad, however, the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) carries special weight and should not be dismissed by the Malaysian authorities

“IPU calls, therefore, once again on the authorities, in particular the Malaysian Parliament as a guardian of human rights, to give full support to the clear recommendations of the Human Rights Commission so as to obtain permission for Anwar Ibrahim to follow his personal choice of medical treatment abroad.”

“IPU requests the Secretary General to convey this resolution to the Malaysian authorities and to the sources and requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining this case and report to it at its next session in April 2003.”