Despite fashioning himself as a political prisoner under Barisan Nasional rule in Putrajaya, former Federal Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has had 360 meetings with variou parties since his incarceration in Sungai Buloh Prison in February 2015.
Anwar’s busy appointment calendar was mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Dewan Rakyat today, as he summed up the debate on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s speech.
According to Zahid, 152 of Anwar’s meetings in prison revolved around his attempts to receive medical treatments.
mStar reports that the DPM noted Anwar also met with members of his family numerous times, with 19 meetings within prison walls, and another 13 while Anwar was being hospitalised.
Anwar also met with his lawyers a total of 18 times, and met 33 times with a psychologist.
Zahid added that Anwar additionally conferred with his lawyers a total of 85 times outside of court, attended court trials 24 times, spoke to his family on the phone 38 times, and used the Sungai Buloh Prison library a total of 52 times.
Anwar was also granted leave to attend the funeral of his late father last April, under allocations within Section 31 of the Prisons Act.
Zahid added that Anwar was allowed to have amenities in prison specifically tailored to his personal needs, such as an orthopaedic bed, hot and cold water supply, a sitting toilet, and a ceiling fan.
The de facto leader of the PKR is also given a diet of cereal, low-fat milk, raisins, dates, honey, and protein shakes.
“Although he is afforded no special privileges, the measures taken by the Prisons Department in reference to his case are allowed for in the Prisons Act,” Zahid said.
“This is proof that all regulations have been observed, but also that prison mangament has treated (Anwar) with utmost humanity.”
Anwar has been serving out a five-year prison term since February 10 2015. He was found guilty of sodomising his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
