‘I DIDN’T BLOCK PRISON VISIT’
I’m not involved with Prison Dept’s operations, says DPM
DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denies that he instructed the Prisons Department to stop Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from visiting PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in hospital.
Zahid, who is also home minister, said he was not involved in the department’s operations and denied involvement in the decision to block the Pakatan Harapan chairman from visiting Anwar.
Anwar, who is serving time at Sungai Buloh Prison for a sodomy conviction, is at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital following a surgery two weeks ago.
Zahid said the department had authority over its operations.
“I leave it to the Prisons Department to handle its own operations.
“The department has the authority (to make decisions). I place my full trust in leaders of the ministry’s agencies and departments (to lead operations),” he said after the ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday.
Prisons Department directorgeneral Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar said Sungai Buloh Prison did not receive any application from Dr Mahathir to visit Anwar.
He said the prohibition was not a ministerial order, but was subject to the discretion of department authorities.
He said special meetings between a prisoner and certain parties were considered under the Prison Act 1995, Prison Regulations 2000 and a permanent order of the Commissioner-General of Prisons.
“We consider every application to visit a prisoner, including if the matter is urgent. The matter will be considered by the officer in charge of the prison.
“We will also take into account whether the visit could trigger a controversy, pose a security threat or create negative perceptions.
“We must also get consent from the prisoner to see if he or she agrees to the visit.”
He said Anwar’s family members were given priority to visit him at the hospital.
Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, had on Wednesday, claimed that the Prisons Department received orders from the home minister to stop him from meeting Anwar.
He said he wanted to meet Anwar to thank him for consenting to his nomination as Pakatan Harapan’s prime minister-designate.