Jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's sympathisers from Indonesia submitted a petition today urging the government to allow him to seek treatment for his back pain abroad.

The petition bearing the signatures of 22 people, was handed to PAS MP for Tumpat Kamaruddin Jaafar who represented Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang at the Parliament lobby.

Those who inked the document, included notable politicians such as Dr Amien Rais, who is the Indonesian parliament speaker and leader of Partai Amanat Nasional, Prof Dr Deliar Noer, leader of the Partai Ummat Islam and Fahmi Idris, chairperson of the Golkar party.

Others included academics, representatives from non-governmental organisations and the media.

The four-point petition was supposed to have been submitted by prominent Indonesian human rights lawyer Dr Adnan Buyong Nasution but he was denied entry by immigration authorities on Tuesday.

His colleague, Dr Bunga Kejora Trihusodo submitted the petition, dated Oct 8, on his behalf.

Kamaruddin, who accepted the petition on behalf of Opposition Leader Abdul Hadi Awang, said the document will be forwarded to the government.

Assault aggravated injury

Bunga told reporters later she hoped that the Malaysian government would permit Anwar to seek the treatment of his choice.

She added that Adnan also sympathises deeply with the ex-deputy premier's condition and is appealing to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to allow him to be treated abroad.

Anwar who is undergoing a 15-year jail term for sodomy and corruption has been suffering from a chronic back pain since he fell off a horse during a riding session several years ago.

His family and supporters alleged that the injury was aggravated when he was assaulted by former inspector-general of police Rahim Noor while in custody.

Anwar, who claims to be a victim of a political conspiracy a charge denied by the government later appealed to seek treatment in Germany but this was rejected.

The government then offered him treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, which the ex-deputy premier turned down.

Barred from entering

Meanwhile, Bunga reiterated her disappointment with the Malaysian authorities for not allowing her colleague into the country.

"Adnan is very sad that he was not allowed to enter Malaysia and would like to take action on the unlawful action by the Malaysian government because he himself is the member of the International Commission of Jurist (in Geneva)," she said.

The lawyer, who rose to prominence during the 1998 reformasi era, was invited by Keadilan to speak on Anwar.

On Tuesday, Adnan and another colleague Paskah Irianto, were denied entry by immigration officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Bunga, however, was allowed to enter.

Earlier, Kamaruddin, who is the member of Parliament for Tumpat, offered an apology to Adnan on behalf of all the opposition supporters in this country.

At one point, an Information Ministry official interrupted the press conference, saying that only MPs can use the Parliament lobby to hold such conferences.

To this, a visibly irate Kamaruddin retorted: "I am a member of Parliament and she (Bunga) is my guest."