Dr Mahathir barred from visiting Anwar in hospital

Muzliza Mustafa Muzliza Mustafa Updated 6 years ago · Published on 10 Jan 2018 5:08PM · 5 Comments

Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad (centre) seen at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital with PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (left). Dr Mahathir has been barred from visiting jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the hospital today, with staff citing orders 'from the top'. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, January 10, 2018.

DR Mahathir Mohamad was not allowed to visit jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital this evening.

Hospital officials told the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman that they had received instructions from the top not to allow him in.

This was supposed to be Dr Mahathir’s first visit to the PKR de facto leader after the former was picked to be PH’s prime minister if the opposition coalition wins the coming national polls.

“I just wanted to visit and thank him for not objecting the decision in appointing me as the PH  candidate for prime minister,” Dr Mahathir said.

The incident comes after Anwar received visits from Prime Minister Najib Razak, his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz.

All the visits were in November last year, after Anwar had undergone surgery for a shoulder injury suffered during a September car crash involving a Prisons Department vehicle.

Dr Mahathir, who arrived at 4.30pm and left about 20 minutes later, said he was saddened that he was not allowed to visit Anwar.

“I am sad because our country is a democratic country, and this kind of thing has never happened during my time. Even when I was told that I was a dictator, never had I barred anyone,” he told a press conference at ward’s entrance after being denied entry.

“But in this so called democratic government, you cannot even meet people. Even if you want to visit sick people, it was not allowed. This is the situation in our country. That is why, in my opinion, all should support bringing down the prime minister.”

The 93-year-old former prime minister said it was important for him to meet his former deputy and thank him.

“Of course, Anwar has a long history of confrontation with me and it’s not easy for him to accept the consensus to approve me as the next prime minister should PH win in the coming general election. It is a big thing,” said Dr Mahathir.

He also called Najib a dictator according to his actions and he’s unsuitable to be prime minister.

“He is in fact a dictator, from his actions, not his words. I was said to be a dictator, say anything you like but I never did things like this (denied anyone from visiting),” said Dr Mahathir.

He said no specific reason was given on the denial of entry other than the order came “from high above”.

“Which means (it is the) home minister (who decided) That I am not allowed to visit Anwar,” he said.

Asked if he would appeal the ban, Dr Mahathir said there was no point as appeal letters would likely be met with vague answers that lead nowhere. – January 10, 2018.

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Comments

  • OMG TAKUT

    Posted 6 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • If BN was confident to win two-third majority in GE 14, then they should not be seen to be afraid of the opposition and PH. The action to block Mahathir meeting Anwar will be reported around the world. They will now think that Najib is preparing to run away.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply

  • If any Malaysian can visit their friends in hospital .....why can't Tun MM? Isn't he a Malaysian?

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • If indeed the instructions came from "the top" then I am puzzled. "The top" already has, under his thumb, the security forces, the judiciary, the MSM, the entire civil service and, or so we are led to believe, the majority rural Malay voters. And yet he fears a 93 year old man and a motley crew of an opposition coalition. Why?

    Posted 6 years ago by Raz Musa · Reply

  • Save the breath to rebuke. Keep all these as pointers to further tighten the noose on them. This are real sign of fear and loss of rationale in the act of being small minded in actions to harass with a purposefu annoying intimidation. Having seen the atrocious antics of Jamal Jamban and now in replay affirmed that it is Umno signature act of desperate measures.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply