The Prisons Department head should not allow himself to be subjected to political pressure and deny jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim his choice of seeking medical treatment for his slipped disc abroad, said an institute associated with the former deputy prime minister today.

Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, spokesperson for the Institute for Policy Research's political education unit, said in a statement Prisons Department director-general Omar Muhammad Dan should not have rejected Anwar's application to be temporarily released from prison to seek treatment overseas.

Anwar is presently serving a 15-year jail term at the Sungai Buloh prison for abuse of power and sodomy.

Anwar's lawyers had written a letter to Omar on June 12 asking him to act within his powers as allowed by the Prisons Act and temporarily release Anwar so that he may undergo his preferred treatment.

The application was based on a statement issued by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on May 31 supporting Anwar's right to have his preferred treatment. Suhakam also said that in view of certain sections of the Prisons Act, there were no prohibitions in the law for Anwar to be sent abroad for medical treatment.

Omar rejected the application a week later on the grounds that prison regulations do not allow for prisoners to be granted such privileges.

Predisposed judgments

Yusmadi said that Omar's decision was 'reprehensible' and that he should have based his decision on Suhakam's findings.

"He should not allow himself to be pressured politically into making predisposed judgments," said Yusmadi.

"The paramount consideration should be Anwar's health and not trivial, technical issues," he added.

Yusmadi added that Omar's decision also contradicted the recommendations of Suhakam and overrode bigger human rights issues relating to the right to treatment of choice of an ailing patient.

He also said that Anwar's back problem has been deteriorating and he has not been accorded medical treatment that was assured of by the authorities when he was moved back to the prison.

"Since Anwar was sent back to the prison from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) while still suffering a serious spinal injury, the treatment he has been receiving at the Sungai Buloh prison has been appalling," said Yusmadi.

He added that Anwar's worsening back pain warranted regular medical check-ups but "contrary to arrangements agreed upon prior to his return to prison, Anwar has not been examined by any doctor on a regular basis".

"The promise of adequate care and treatment for him from relevant authorities has been conveniently forgotten. The only care he receives are daily visits by a hospital assistant."

Yusmadi said that Anwar had not undergone any physiotherapy treatment as well, although the prison and hospital authorities have agreed that this would be part of his treatment.

"Equipment purchased for this purpose has not been assembled in the prison for any treatment to be administered," he said.

Foreign specialist

Anwar had expressed his wish to undergo an endoscopic spinal operation in a specialist clinic in Munich, Germany, a move which the government opposed.

The government said that Anwar could have a foreign specialist perform the surgery locally and if necessary, the equipment would be flown in. However, the specialist of Anwar's choice, Dr Thomas Hoogland said he could not operate here as he claimed his capabilities and methods had been questioned by government ministers.

Anwar had been admitted to the HKL on Nov 25 but was moved back to the Sungai Buloh prison on May 10 after he rejected the government's offer to have the surgery done locally.

Anwar's lawyers have said that they will be taking legal action to compel Omar to use his powers under the Prisons Act to release Anwar for medical treatment.