Thursday, November 19, 2015

Wisma Putra slams UN group

Putrajaya has slammed the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) on its statement criticising the jailing of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a response transmitted to the group via the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations in Geneva, the Government said Anwar was “being treated just as any other convicted prisoner”.

“Pursuant to the medical recommendation by a senior consultant who oversees (his) medical needs, Anwar had been provided with certain additional facilities which are not ordinarily afforded to other prisoners. These include an appropriate hospital bed, a suitable chair and table, hot and cold shower facilities, a wall fan and a sitting toilet.

“DSAI also received special dietary and food supplements. Anwar has been given the privilege to occupy a specially renovated cell in the prison’s hospital complex in contrast to other prisoners who are placed in sharing cells. He was definitely not placed in solitary confinement. Anwar also continued to enjoy all his rights such as visitation rights and access to his lawyers,” the four-page statement added.

The ministry also denied that he was suffering from any acute or life threatening medical conditions.

“The Government also maintains that the chronic back pain and spinal injury suffered by Anwar is not a life-threatening medical condition which warrants treatment overseas, (and) undoubtedly can be treated by local medical experts.

“The Government further maintains that based on the indisputable facts and legal basis as explained in detail in the reply to the UNWGAD, Anwar is not a political prisoner.”

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