Mahathir should not allow his visceral hatred of Anwar to stop him from doing what is right and just - allowing his former deputy to go to Munich for specialist spinal surgery.
Why should Mahathir relate his litany of wrongs against Anwar without giving Anwar the opportunity to narrate his catalogue of wrongs against Mahathir, when the issue is whether Anwar should be allowed to go to Munich for specialist spinal surgery.
On Monday, the legal curtain came down for former Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Rahim Noor for the “black-eye” and near-death assault of Anwar when handcuffed and blindfolded in police custody in Bukit Aman police headquarters with the whole country witnessing one of the most lenient treatment of a “despicable and inhuman” crime in the nation’s history in contrast to Anwar’s case, who was and is still subject to the harshest and even cruellest treatment for his differences with the Prime Minister.
In the circumstances, it is only fair and just that Anwar should be allowed to go to Munich for specialist spinal surgery, especially as his back injury is not unconnected to the near-death assault by Rahim Noor.
Mahathir had claimed that Anwar would not return to Malaysia if he is allowed to go abroad. I concede that this is a legitimate concern and that the government must be satisfied that this would not happen.
Anwar has given his personal guarantee that he would not abscond from the country and the Barisan Alternative Presidents/Chairmen can also give a collective guarantee to Mahathir on Anwar's return to prison in Malaysia after his spinal surgery in Munich.
I have no doubt that the German government would also be prepared to co-operate to ensure that Anwar would return to Malaysia after his surgery in Munich.
Instead of succumbing to tantrums, Mahathir should meet with Barisan
Alternative leaders to work out the conditions for Anwar to go to Munich
for surgery and his return - and send out the message that the government
under his leadership is prepared to embark on the path of national reconciliation
to end the great divisiveness which has descended on the country.
(2/5/2001)