The medical examination conducted on jailed ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday revealed new back injuries which may worsen if he is not given proper treatment, says his lawyer Sankara Nair.

He said magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) and computed tomography (CT) scans done on Anwar had revealed "friction of the facet joint" .

"Doctors also discovered a minor prolapsed of another disc - lumbar no 5, below the earlier injured disc. The scans showed that the injury was impinging his nerve root," he told malaysiakini.

"These two injuries have been the cause of the excruciating pain he has been suffering for the past two weeks. We don't even dare to imagine what may have happened if the authorities had waited and continued to deny him a proper examination."

Sankara said Anwar will now receive regular physiotherapy at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) until his condition improves.

Pain 'not faked'

He said the discovery of the new injuries has proved that Anwar is not faking his pain as alleged by certain quarters.

"I don't know how anyone can insinuate that my client is faking his pain when the dosage of painkillers has had to be doubled," he said.

Last September, Anwar had informed both prison officials and his government-appointed physician Dr S Jeyaindran of worsening back pain and later requested expert medical opinion.

He claimed that his complaints were ignored, alleging that Dr Jeyaindran had refused to do anything more than prescribing painkillers.

Anwar further claimed that the "unprofessional conduct" resulted from an official complaint he had lodged against the doctor, following a misleading report to the Inter Parliamentary Union which claimed that he was receiving special medical privileges including routine check-ups at HKL.

Investigate the doctor

Meanwhile in a statement today, Wanita Keadilan deputy chief Irene Fernandez called on the government to immediately remove the doctor appointed to treat Anwar, and to direct the Health Ministry to conduct an inquiry into the standard of treatment provided.

She further urged the Malaysian Medical Council to investigate the doctor for allegedly ignoring Anwar's request for admission to hospital.

Irene added that the jailed politician should be allowed to go for further treatment of his choice.

Contacted this morning, however, Dr Jeyaindran said the requirement of patient confidentiality prevented him from discussing details, but maintained that he would continue providing Anwar with professional medical treatment as has been done all along.

Visit 'appropriate'

On another matter, Sankara said opposition leader and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (photo) has sought the government's permission to visit Anwar in Sungai Buloh prison.

The lawyer said he was given a copy of Abdul Hadi's letter - also made available to malaysiakini - which was sent to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday.

Abdul Hadi, also Terengganu menteri besar, said in the letter that he considered a visit to be appropriate in view of Anwar's declining health and the fact that he (Hadi) is a "concerned friend and fellow Muslim".

"I believe that my visit will bring happiness to him and indirectly ease the pain he is suffering.... I also believe that, with your power and approach to administration which emphasises the welfare of the people, you will have no problem (in giving permission)," he said.

Anwar suffered from a slipped disc following a horse riding accident several years ago. In 1998, he was sacked and subsequently jailed on charges of corruption and sodomy, which he has denied.

He claimed that the injury worsened when he was assaulted by ex-Inspector General of Police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor, who has since served time for the offence.

Although the government has offered Anwar the opportunity to undergo surgery locally, he has declined this and stated his preference for endoscopic surgery, which is only available in Germany.