Anwar’s bid to challenge prison director’s order dismissed

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday dismissed an application by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his family to challenge a decision by Sungai Buloh Prison Director in not allowing him to have physical contact with family members during their visits to the prison.

When handing down the judgment, judge Datuk Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad ruled that a prisoner is subjected to orders and regulations by the Prisons Director-General.

She said the court could not interfere in the decisionmaking process of the Prisons’ Department.

The decision by the prison authority in not allowing physical contact during visits is not something that is not rational, invalid and against procedures, she said.

She also said it was not necessary for the prison authorities to give reason for rejecting Anwar’s application.

“The fact is, the applicant (Anwar) is a convict and is subjected to all orders and regulations set by the Prisons Director-General,” she added.

Nik Hasmat ordered Anwar to pay costs of RM1,000 to the respondents, comprising Sungai Buloh Prison’s Director, Prisons Commissioner-General and Home Minister.

Besides Anwar, 69, the other applicants named are his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, 64, and their four daughters, Nurul Izzah, 36, Nurul Nuha, 33, Nurul Ilham, 29, and Nurul Iman, 26.

Also named in the application are Nurul Izzah’s sons, Raja Nur Safiyah Raja Ahmad Shahrir Iskandar, 10, and Raja Ahmad Harith, aged eight years; and Nurul Nuha’s sons, Sulaimaan Mohamad Khairul and Yahya, aged five and four years, respectively.

They sought an order to revoke a decision made on March 14, 2016, by the Sungai Buloh Prison director in not allowing Anwar to have physical contact with family members during their visits to the prison.

They claimed that during the visits, they were separated by a glass screen and could only speak with each other through the telephone. - Bernama