[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 10 Sep 1999
Time: 18:42:26
Remote User: -
Malaysian opposition parties 'shocked' by Anwar arsenic allegation
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (AFP) - Malaysian opposition parties 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 sentenced 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 since his arrest in September last year.
Lim added state institutions had been "so subverted and compromised that such a suggestion is no more unthinkable."
Mahfuz Omar, head of the youth wing of Parti Islam Semalaysia (PAS), denounced what he described as "the second murder attempt on Anwar Ibrahim" and called for the Malaysian king to intervene.
"This heinous and barbaric act of poisoning political opponents is not new to this world and it seems that the conspirators in this country have resorted to using arsenic," he said in a statement.
"We appeal to the king as protector of the nation to ensure that the people's safety is ensured," he said. "A royal commission must be established immediately to investigate the political conspirators."
Mahfuz also warned Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad against suggesting that Anwar's poisoning was self-inflicted -- as Mahathir did when the ousted deputy prime minister appeared in court last year with a black eye.
"Mahathir should dissolve parliament and call for elections because he has betrayed the people and can no longer ensure their safety," he said.
Under the Malaysian constitution, general elections have to be held by the middle of next year.