Assault on Anwar Ibrahim
September 30, 1998
| The Bar Council is shocked to read
in the newspaper today about the physical assault on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
on the day he was first detained under the ISA on 20th September 1998.
That he was not given any medical treatment for 5 days following the assault
reveals the inhumane and utter lawlessness of the action of the detaining
Authority. It cannot be imagined the physical trauma Datuk Seri Anwar underwent
as a human being and the travail of his soul during this period of his
detention.
The Bar Council deplores and condemns the inhuman treatment inflicted on Datuk Seri Anwar and calls for his immediate release so that he can get the proper medical attention. The Bar Council also calls for the relevant Authorities to commence an immediate and transparent inquiry into the assault and for the Minister of Home Affairs to ensure that Datuk Seri Anwar is protected from any further assault or any physical threat on his person. It appears that the recent statement of the Authorities that Datuk Seri Anwar was safe and sound was not altogether correct. The Bar Council calls upon the said Minister to bring the perpetrators of the assault to be charged under the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt. Dated: 30th September 1998. R.R. CHELVARAJAH, VICE-PRESIDENT, MALAYSIAN BAR |