PKR: Leaked medical report 'confirms' allegation was politically motivated

PKR: Leaked medical report 'confirms' allegation was politically motivated
28 July, 2008

The leaked medical report seemingly confirms the Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) suspicions that the sodomy allegations against its adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are without merit and are politically motivated.

In a statement released today, PKR secretary general Salehuddin Hashim said while this was so, the party is still troubled by the allegations of reports that police spent three days recording a statement from the doctor and reports that he and his family have gone into hiding.

"Every assurance must be given for his safety and protection. The existence of the medical report further erodes any confidence the public would have in the credibility of the police report filed against Anwar – a report which remains shrouded in secrecy," Salehuddin said.

He also questioned the emergence of the medical report which comes a month after the allegations surfaced, "after Anwar spent a night in jail and after the police spent so much time and money on the case."

"There should be complete disclosure of the facts of the case to the public as anything less will further diminish the public’s trust in the institutions of governance and in particular the integrity of the IGP’s office," he added, reiterating PKR’s commitment to move ahead with DAP and PAS for the future.

"With the imminent by-election of Anwar to return him to a seat in Parliament for the first time in 10 years, the prospects for change in Malaysia are stronger than ever," Salehuddin added.

Malaysiakini released some of the findings of the two-paged medical report by Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid which held that there was no evidence of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan being sodomised.

The examination, reportedly at Hospital Pusrawi (Pusat Rawatan Islam) in Jalan Tun Razak, was conducted four hours before Saiful lodged the police report alleging he was sexually assaulted by Anwar on June 28.

The doctor who examined him said the patient claimed to have been assaulted by intrusion of a piece of plastic in the anus, and advised Saiful to go to a government hospital to rule out assault and sodomy.

Malaysiakini also reported that Mohamed Osman who was said to be under stress as a result of police interrogation, was advised by the hospital to go on leave and has been on leave since last week.

It was reported that a senior Pusrawi official told Malaysiakini the hospital has launched an internal investigation on how Saiful’s medical report was leaked, amounting to a major breach of patient privacy.

When contacted for a reponse, Pusrawi officials declined to comment on the issue. - The Sun