[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 10 Sep 1999
Time: 18:39:14
Remote User: -
Malaysian opposition 'shocked' by Anwar arsenic allegation
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (AFP) - Malaysia's top opposition party expressed shock Friday following allegations that former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was suffering from arsenic poisoning. Lim Kit Siang, head of the Democratic Action Party, called for an "independent medical examination" into the health of the jailed politician, who was sentened to six years in April for abuse of power.
"Malaysians are shocked by the court revelation," he said after the judge in Anwar's sodomy trial adjourned proceedings and sent Anwar to hospital for a medical examination.
"A year ago, any suggestion of arsenic poisoning of a prisoner -- particularly one who had held as high a post as deputy prime minister -- would have been unthinkable," Lim said in a statement.
"But so many incredible things have transpired in the past 12 months," he said, referring to Anwar's beating in police detention and other developments following his arrest in September last year.
Lim added that state institutions had been "so subverted and compromised that such a suggestion is no more unthinkable."
Anwar faces a further sentence of up to 20 years if convicted of sodomy in the second trial which began in July.