anwar's mum's funeral

Anwar mourns mother as hundreds of supporters share grief

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (AFP) - Jailed Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim attended his mother's funeral under armed guard Wednesday as an estimated one thousand supporters packed the Muslim cemetery in a show of sympathy.
Shouts of "Reformasi" (Reform) and "Allahu Akhbar" (God is Great) rang out as Anwar -- a symbol of opposition to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- left the graveside after the brief service.

Che Yan Binti Hamid Hussin, 74, died in hospital late Tuesday after suffering a heart attack earlier in the day.

Anwar was at her bedside when she died after prison officials authorised his visit.

The ex-deputy premier, who is serving a 15-year jail term but considers himself a political prisoner, has himself been in a separate hospital since last November with acute back pain.

He was brought by ambulance Wednesday morning to his family home in the smart suburb of Damansara Heights for prayers beside his mother's coffin.

The coffin, covered by a green cloth bearing Koranic verses, was then carried out of the house.

Hundreds of people -- packed into the front yard or perched precariously on walls -- shouted support as Anwar was brought from the house in a wheelchair for the journey by ambulance to the cemetery.

Armed prison staff, one of them carrying a sub-machine gun, and police cleared a path through the crowd but did not try to disperse the cheering and clapping supporters.

Anwar pulled himself with difficulty into the ambulance and waved to the crowd amid chants of "Reformasi."

"Datuk Seri (Anwar's honorific), we will fight to the end," shouted a middle-aged woman in an Islamic headscarf as the ambulance pulled away.

"Don't worry, we are always with you."

In the nearby Muslim cemetery Anwar sat in a wheelchair as the grave was filled in. Men in Islamic skullcaps and headscarved women fell silent as prayers were said.

Fellow opposition politicians, including Parti Islam SeMalaysia president Fadzil Noor, were at the graveside along with Anwar's family.

His wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who heads the National Justice Party, was among the family mourners.

No incidents were reported and police and prison officers acted with restraint.

Last week Wan Azizah met diplomats to brief them on Anwar's medical condition.

A foreign expert says he needs specialist spinal surgery which should be conducted overseas in a dedicated clinic. Mahathir says the operation can be performed locally and Anwar would not return to serve out his sentence if allowed to go abroad.

Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar on Wednesday accused diplomats who attended the meeting with Wan Azizah of interfering in Malaysia's internal affairs.

He said he would summon all accredited diplomats as soon as possible to explain the political situation, including the Anwar issue.

"We are not happy because the closed-door meeting had discussed the Anwar issue, a political issue and not a medical issue which can be resolved in the country," Syed Hamid said.

Anwar, sacked by Mahathir and then jailed in September 1998, was convicted in separate trials of abusing his official powers and of sodomy.

He says Mahathir orchestrated a conspiracy to frame him, a charge the government denies.

One mourner told AFP he came to the funeral as a Muslim duty.

"I don't think the trials were fair and nobody I know thinks the trials were fair," said the middle-aged information technology consultant, who declined to be identified.

He said he once supported Mahathir's ruling United Malays National Organisation, although with some misgivings.

"But the (Anwar affair) was a watershed -- many people decided then whether they were on one side or the other."

Wednesday, 4 April, 2001, 20:35 GMT 21:35 UK
Jailed Anwar attends mother's funeral

Malaysia's jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has attended his mother's funeral along with armed guards and hundreds of supporters.
Confined to a wheelchair with acute back problems, Mr Anwar was greeted with shouts of "Reformasi" (Reform), the battle-cry of opponents of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Mr Anwar believes Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad framed him

Anwar is serving a 15-year jail term on sex and corruption charges, which he says were fabricated by Mr Mohamad.

The temporary release came as Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar accused foreign diplomats who attended a recent meeting with Mr Anwar's wife of meddling in Malaysia's internal affairs.

Government warning

Mr Mahathir last week warned foreign countries not to interfere in Malaysia's treatment of Mr Anwar, who is widely viewed as a political prisoner.

The prime minister sacked his former protege in 1998 before trying him and jailing him.

Mr Anwar made no public comments at the funeral of his mother, who died in hospital late on Tuesday.

He arrived by ambulance at the Muslim cemetery near his family home in the wealthy Damansara Heights suburb of Kuala Lumpur.

Wan Azizah briefed diplomats on her husband's medical condition

Armed prison guards cleared a path for Mr Anwar through the crowd of hundreds of people who turned out to show their support.

After the ceremony he was wheeled back to the ambulance, raising an arm in silent salute as he was helped back in.

Analysts believe that he will not serve his full 15-year term, but will only be released when the government believes it can make political capital from his release.

Diplomats summoned

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid said he would summon all foreign diplomats in Malaysia to explain "the actual political situation" in Malaysia.

The summons comes after a meeting last week between Mr Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and diplomats from 11 missions along with two US embassy officials.

"We are not happy because the closed-door meeting had discussed the Anwar issue, a political issue and not a medical issue which can be resolved in the country," Mr Syed Hamid was quoted by the Bernama news agency as saying.

The foreign minister said it was not wrong for foreign diplomats to collect information on the country, but this must not involve domestic political issues.

Wednesday, April 4 7:08 PM SGT

More Than 1,000 Supporters Greet Jailed Malaysian Leader
KUALA LUMPUR (AP)--More than 1,000 people filled the streets to greet a jailed politician Wednesday, cheering "We are with you!" as Anwar Ibrahim returned home under heavy guard for his mother's funeral.
Despite warnings not to turn Anwar's brief furlough into a political event, about 250 people scuffled with police later in the day at the grave site, shouting the anti-government "Reformasi!"

They blocked the path of the ambulance carrying Anwar away from the funeral.

The visits to his home and the cemetery were Anwar's first since he fell out with his one-time mentor, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, and was arrested on charges of corruption and sodomy three years ago. The former deputy prime minister was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in jail.

After appeals from his family and lawyers, authorities allowed Anwar to take part in traditional Muslim funeral ceremonies for Che Yan Hamid Hussain, 76, who died Tuesday from a heart attack.

Anwar, who was hospitalized in November with a slipped disc, was in a wheelchair Wednesday. He led Muslim prayers over his mother's body before it was taken to a mosque for last rites, then buried at a cemetery.

Anwar wept and waved to the crowd at his house before being driven to the cemetery, where scores of police, some armed with automatic weapons, were waiting. At the burial plot, Anwar, dressed in a white suit of traditional clothes and black hat, was helped to kneel by two officers and sprinkled holy water and flowers over the grave.

As the funeral was ending, about 250 people began protesting. It lasted only a few minutes, and mourners quickly dispersed after the ambulance left.

Talking through a loud-speaker, Anwar's lawyer Zulkifli Nordin told the crowd at Anwar's house that he had been allowed to participate in funeral ceremonies only if the gathering didn't become a political rally.

Anwar, under heavy guard, visited her Tuesday less than two hours before she died. Opposition leaders said Wednesday they were disappointed the visit wasn't allowed sooner.

Wednesday April 4

Funeral carried out under heavy security
K Kabilan and Leong Kar Yen

4:24pm, Wed: Jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim along with a crowd of more than 3,000 people, including Barisan Alternatif leaders and representatives, attended the funeral of his mother at the Kiara Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Che Yan Abdul Hamid Hussin, 75, fondly known as Mak Yan, died last night at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UUMC) where she had been warded since Sunday. Her remains were later brought to Anwar’s residence in Bukit Damansara.

Today, prison authorities permitted Anwar to attend the funeral and perform the last rite prayers. He was brought to the house in an ambulance at about 1.20pm and met by a crowd of 2,000. However, the former deputy premier was not allowed to attend the prayers held at a nearby mosque.

About an hour later he was driven to the cemetery and arrived at the burial ground under the watchful eyes of some 50 police and prisons department personnel, just minutes before the arrival of the hearse.

Anwar was not allowed to step out of the ambulance until his mother’s coffin was placed in the burial ground subsequently more than 10 prisons department personnel formed a barricade to prevent others from approaching him as he alighted.

After the burial ceremony, Anwar, flanked by his father Ibrahim Abdul Rahman and wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, recited the final prayers and sprinkled the grave with flowers and water.

Visibly suffering from physical pain, the grief stricken Anwar was seen clutching the hand of one of his daughters throughout the ceremony.

Tight Security

His wife, Azizah, who is also Keadilan leader, expressed her gratitude to the prisons department for allowing her husband to attend the funeral.

She was also thankful that Anwar had managed to see his mother yesterday before she passed away. Anwar was granted permission by the authorities to visit his mother at the medical centre and was by her side during her final hour.

“I kept telling her that Anwar would be there soon and she managed to see him before she passed away,” said Azizah.

However, Azizah expressed her unhappiness about the tight security at the cemetery which according to her could have been avoided.

“After all, he was here for his mother’s funeral. The police and the prison authorities could have been more sensitive to the nature of the event,” she said.

After the funeral, Anwar was swiftly led back to the ambulance and driven away to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, where he is being treated for chronic back pain, amidst chants of “Reformasi”.

But these cries were quickly drown out by chants of “Allahu akhbar” (God is great), which are common at funerals.

However, the supporters of reformasi movement began shouting “Reformasi” again as Anwar’s ambulance drove away from the cemetery.

Anwar, sacked by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in September 1998, is serving a 15-year jail term for abuse of power and sodomy.

His mother, Che Yan, was admitted following chest and kidney pains, and underwent heart treatment.

The mother of nine and grandmother of 37, was the founding member of Umno Wanita in Penang. She was also the former women’s wing chief at Umno Bukit Mertajam.

From: "irene F" <tnita@h...>
Date: Thu Apr 5, 2001 6:44pm
Subject: Mak Yan - Strength and Substance

Dear Pak Ibrahim, Saudara Anwar, Kak Wan, friends and all,

I feel terrible that i could not be there when dear Mak Yan passed away. Many sisters called me and gave me updates. I am at a one week meeting which is important for reformasi. The struggle must continue and am sure that would have been what Mak Yan would ahve wanted me to do.
I will always remember Mak Yan as a solid serikandi... one who never wavered. One who believed completely in her son, Anwar and what he stood for. She stood by him. I remember the many times when i was in court and she was there, she gave strength. It is that kind of strength that all of us are challenged. The times ahead will become more tough and more challenging.
But what struck me very much was when Mak Yan was with me in Nibong Tebal. I was travelling in the north as part of the reformasi program. I was meeting KeADILan women over there. As i shared my thoughts, ideas and expereinces with the women, Mak Yan was diligently taking down notes, besides sharing her thoughts as well. Later, she held my hands tight and told me, "I will use what i have written with other women and in my ceramah. We will fight together". Mak Yan had no obstacles.... age, health, fear, tiredness etc. And it is all this that challenges me. Can we give an excuse for not being reformasi?
Yes, Mak Yan, we will fight together. You have physically left us. But your conviction, your strength, yoru determination to continue struggling for justice and the spirit in which you lived will be the force, the inspiration and also strength for me, for Serikandi KeADILan and for all of us. You will live in each one of us

Though we miss you, i believe, the best we can do is to ensure ANWAR BEBAS.
with you,
irene fernandez