Anwar given ultimatum over surgery

Anwar claims he was framed on four corruption charges and one sodomy suit

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysian doctors have told former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, crippled by back pain, to submit to surgery by them or return to prison.

Anwar, laid up under guard at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital since November for a slipped disc, has refused to let local doctors treat him.

Instead, he has insisted that a Dutch spinal surgeon operate, using a sophisticated technique not available in Malaysia.

But the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has refused to let Anwar travel to the surgeon's clinic in Germany for the endoscopic micro spinal surgery, or EMS, he prefers.

Dutch surgeon Thomas Hoogland, who initially agreed to operate on Anwar in Malaysia, now refuses to treat him in Kuala Lumpur, citing criticism by local doctors and the authorities.

"The Kuala Lumpur Hospital has now given Anwar an ultimatum, saying he has to submit to surgery under a method called open microsurgery, which is risky compared to the EMS method we are seeking," Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair said.

"The hospital said it will absolve itself of all risks should anything happen to Anwar later," the lawyer added.

Causing local offence

Anwar, described by Nair as using a wheelchair and a neck brace to ease his pain, was also warned of the danger of delaying surgery.

"They warned him he could risk losing sensation in his hands and legs, temporarily or permanently, and also risk damaging sexual and urinal functions if he continued to resist surgery."

Nair said Anwar had scribbled his reply on the same letter, asking for a few days to confer with his family and lawyers.

The government has accused Anwar of looking down on the country's medical profession by refusing local expertise.

Mahathir says Anwar is using his back pain for political gain.

Once prime-minister-in-waiting, Anwar is serving a 15-year prison sentence for sex and graft offences he says were made up to stop a challenge to Mahathir.

The prime minister denies this, saying Anwar was immoral and unfit to rule.

Anwar is to reappear in court Saturday for prosecutors to decide whether to try him on more sodomy and corruption charges. "He will be in court but in a wheelchair," Nair said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Malaysia's Anwar told to pay PM legal costs
18 April 2001
Malaysia jitters over pro-Anwar rally
13 April 2001
Twists and turns in trial of Malaysia's Anwar
5 November 1998

Office of the Malaysian Prime Minister
Free Anwar Campaign

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.