Dept: Dr M did not follow rules

D-G: Non-family members must seek permission to visit prisoners in hospital

D-G: Non-family members must seek permission to visit prisoners in hospitals. He did not do this, so he was barred from seeing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

PUTRAJAYA: The Prisons Department did not allow Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to visit jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in hospital because it did not get a formal application.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said only prisoners’ family members are allowed to visit them in hospital, while others are required to seek permission.

“The decision (to disallow Dr Mahathir’s visit) was made based on prison rules.

“There was no official application from Dr Mahathir. If there were, it could have been considered, but still subject to approval.

“In the past when he (Anwar) received visitors, including the Penang chief minister and Selangor mentri besar, we received formal applications beforehand.

“According to Section 22 of the Prisons Act, even though a prisoner is in hospital, he is still considered to be in prison and governed by prison rules. Any approval for visits can only be given by the prison,” Zulkifli told a press conference after the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly here yesterday.

He added that the Prisons Department has the authority to deny visits for reasons such as, among others, safety.

“There was also a worry by the prison that if we allowed them (Dr Mahathir and Anwar) to meet, it might have been controversial,” he said, adding that the authority to approve visits in this case lay with the officer in charge of Sungai Buloh prison.

Claims that the Government told the department not to allow Dr Mahathir’s visit were dismissed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“The decision did not come from the minister. On operational matters, I give my full trust to the departments under the Home Ministry,” said Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister.

On Wednesday, Dr Mahathir, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, arrived at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital to meet Anwar.

However, after meeting prison officials, the former prime minister was told he could not see Anwar.

Meanwhile, on a threat by taxi groups that they would vote for the Opposition if the Government continues to side with e-hailing services, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Government is willing to sit down and talk.

“I will ask Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) Datuk Nancy Shuktri to talk with them. There is no need for threats, and the Government is not afraid of such threats,” he said.