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Malaysia orders probe on Anwar poisoning allegation

Date: 10 Sep 1999
Time: 18:43:34
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Malaysia orders probe on Anwar poisoning allegation

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (AFP) - Malaysia on Friday ordered a top-level probe into allegations that someone is trying to poison ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, official reports said. "I have informed the officers concerned to initiate an investigation case to probe the allegations hurled against the government," Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Abdullah, the deputy premier who replaced Anwar, named Home Ministry secretary-general Mohamed Noor Abdul Rahim to begin the investigation.

"The thorough investigations will be carried out on an urgent basis," he said, adding that the government "took a serious view of the allegations."

Anwar was hospitalised for tests at the National University Hospital on Friday after his sodomy trial was postponed in light of the dramatic poisoning allegations.

Defence counsel Karpal Singh earlier told the High Court that a specimen of Anwar's urine was obtained in mid-August and sent to the Australian city of Melbourne under an asssumed name.

"A pathologist's report has been obtained," he told the court. "It shows arsenic levels beyond danger."

In a statement made to police and later released by his wife, Anwar said the level of arsenic was 77 times the normal level. He said he was suffering from weight loss, numbness and dehydrated skin.

He called for assurances that a detailed investigation would be carried out.

"It is a heinous crime and maybe a murder attempt," he said.

Anwar, who was fired by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on September 2 last year, was sentenced to six years jail in April after being found guilty of abusing his position to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct.

He faces a further sentence of up to 20 years if convicted of sodomy in the second trial which began in July.


Last changed: September 10, 1999