The supporters of ailing jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim and the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi are engaged in a battle of wills after the former leader was rushed to a hospital when his health took a turn for the worse.

Anwar developed serious neurological problems on Tuesday from a previous spinal injury, which he claims was caused in part by a 1998 police beating in custody.

Because of the aggravated injury, he has been forced to wear a back brace and use a wheelchair since early 2001.

Anwar had been out of the public eye for some time and with a media blackout in place, his deteriorating health had gone largely unnoticed by the Malaysian public.

The deputy of former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is currently serving jail terms totalling 15 years for abuse of power and sodomy - charges he has denied - and is due for release, assuming a one third remission for good behaviour - only in 2009.

Once, Anwar was touted as Mahathir's successor. But when he decided to take on the former premier's business cronies, he was unceremoniously cast out of the ruling United Malays National Organisation circle.

General weakness

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang in giving notice this week to move a motion of urgent, public importance in Parliament noted Anwar had been confined to a wheelchair for more than three years, causing general weakness and muscle-wasting.

He has only received palliative treatment for his serious back problem and has been on strong medication of pain-killers, "with the dosage having to be progressively increased'', said Lim.

When contacted, Raja Petra, the director of the Free Anwar Campaign, told IPS: "We don't seem to have the exact situation. His spinal injury has aggravated his condition and led to other
complications."

"He was supposed to go to hospital at 10 am on Tuesday. But they had to rush him to hospital at dawn. They brought him back to prison after that but then he had to be rushed back again to hospital later in the night."

According to Anwar's wife, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, nerve damage from his spinal injury prompted his spinal canal to narrow and kidneys to swell.

Doctors say surgery is needed as soon as possible to ease pressure on the nerves affected - otherwise Anwar faces the risk of paralysis.

The former deputy premier's family had submitted an application to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to allow him treatment overseas.

Local surgery

But on Wednesday, the government decreed that it would not allow Anwar to seek treatment abroad for his spinal injuries and would only allow him to undergo surgery in Malaysia, reiterating a position it has held all along.

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek told reporters that Anwar should consent to local surgery for his medical problem as a delay could lead to further complications.

The minister said that Anwar had in March complained of pain when passing urine and a medical examination showed that he had hypotonic bladder (bladder not contracting normally).

He added that the government would consider bringing in a foreign specialist upon a formal request from Anwar.

Anwar has suffered from spinal injuries due to a fall from a horse in 1996.

In September 1998, Anwar was assaulted while in police custody by the country's then top police officer hours after being arrested. He fell on his right hip leaving him with a back pain, which developed into progressive radiating pain on the left leg.

But Anwar's supporters want their leader to be treated at a German clinic in Munich which specialises in spinal treatment.

The former deputy premier's daughter, Nurul Izzah, told IPS that she had seen her father in hospital.

''He looks weak,'' she said. "He said the next step is to appeal and to push for the surgery to be done in Munich. All along, we have been pushing and pushing for this, but nothing has been
happening.

Nurul pointed out that the surgery in Malaysia cannot be done with local anaesthesia.

Deadlocked

''My father rejects it. He wants surgery that has a higher chance of success - endoscopic surgery using local anaesthesia in Germany,'' she said.

She pointed out that Anwar had been attacked while in the custody of the state in 1998.

The situation now remains deadlocked. When asked what Anwar's options were right now, Raja Petra replied, ''I really don't know.''

But pressure is mounting on the government to let Anwar seek treatment at the Munich-based clinic.

''Is it so wrong to go abroad for treatment? Do not Malaysians ever go abroad for second medical opinions or treatments?'' asked a reader at the hugely popular Malaysiakini.com - an online news
portal.

Another wrote: "Never have I thought that this government of Malaysia can be so inhuman so as to not allow a fellow human being like Anwar Ibrahim to get the treatment of his choice.''

"The most illustrious son of Malaysia - the most incorrupt person ever to hold such a high office in the country - is denied his right for his own choice of treatment for his serious back ailment,'' added the malaysiakini reader.

Pak Lah's predicament

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who like his one-time political rival Anwar comes from the northern state of Penang, has largely remained silent about the ex-deputy premier's plight.

In a sense, the new Malaysian premier faces a predicament since the reins of power were passed on to him by Mahathir on Oct 31 last year.

If Anwar's situation deteriorates, Abdullah's administration risks appearing callous and indicative in not allowing him the treatment of his choice.

Perhaps with this in mind, the Health Minister Chua said that Anwar knew the risk he was taking by not accepting the government offer for him to undergo surgery in Malaysia.

''I don't think people are aware of the extent of risk my father is putting himself under,'' Nurul told IPS. ''Everyone has to accept that he is no ordinary prisoner. He is Mahathir's public enemy number one.''