In pain, but still in his element
Anwar gives rousing speech despite effects of spinal surgery
SHAH ALAM: The fields were muddy from an evening downpour, but that did not deter Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is recuperating from a spinal injury, from delivering a fiery speech in front of a crowd of 150.
Anwar, clad in a checkered shirt with an arm brace around his neck, was speaking at a ceramah in Shah Alam, held in support of PKR’s Zawawi Ahmad Mughni for the Sungai Kandis by-election.
Anwar, 70, said he was in pain due to the titanium plates that had been installed from his shoulders to his elbows, following spinal surgery in Turkey.
Despite the pain, he still managed to pull off his speech at a primary school field located in Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam.
“It takes time to heal. But I am still here despite the doctor saying ‘no’. I told him that it was okay, I won’t speak for too long.
“But I am here to send a message – that no matter how hard times are, we are still together. And when it’s painful, we are still here,” he said to rousing applause from the crowd.
“So, I want to warn BN (Barisan Nasional), watch out; my hands are steel now,” he quipped.
It was a hectic day for Anwar. He visited the late Shuhaimi Shafiei’s family for tahlil prayers in Setia Alam and was then scheduled to speak at two ceramah – one in Klang and another in Shah Alam.
Anwar appeared frail when he arrived at Shuhaimi’s house, flanked by security similar to his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s. She is the current Deputy Prime Minister.
Despite looking weak, Anwar, addressed tough questions from reporters under a makeshift tent before entering Shuhaimi’s house.
He then left quickly for Klang. However, due to the heavy rain, the ceramah there was cancelled.
Anwar then proceeded to Shah Alam.