Скачать или смотреть MALAYSIA: ANWAR IBRAHIM ATTENDS BROTHER'S FUNERAL

(21 Nov 1999) Eglish/Nat

Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was released from prison on Sunday to attend his brother's funeral.

Relatives said Malaysian authorities had refused repeated appeals to let the jailed politician visit his sick brother who was fighting bone cancer.

Anwar Ibrahim attended the funeral under heavy guard and was whisked away in a police van as soon as the service ended.

Rani Ibrahim, 62, the eldest brother of jailed former deputy minister Anwar Ibrahim, died of bone cancer on Saturday.

Anwar's family reportedly sent a letter to Malaysian authorities asking that Anwar be allowed to visit Rani, even if under heavy guard.

Rustam Sani, spokesman for the opposition's four-party Alternative Front coalition, says that request was turned down - as was a follow-up appeal.

At Rani Ibrahim's funeral on Sunday, an estimated 500 hundred people turned out.

The death of Rani came as Anwar's wife, Azizah Ismail, shifted her campaign for Malaysia's November 29 election into top gear.

Azizah's attempting to take Anwar's place in politics by running for his Parliamentary seat in the northern district of Penang.

But politics were put on hold on Sunday.

Zainur Zakaria, Anwar Ibrahim's lawyer arrived before Anwar.

Anwar had been Malaysia's no.2 for five years and had been seen as the natural successor to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed.

Anwar's political downfall followed rising tensions between the two leaders over economic policy as Malaysia became entrenched in a financial crisis.

On September 2 1998, the man who'd been expected to take over as leader of the country, was sacked amid allegations of corruption and sexual misconduct.

Anwar remains adamant that the allegations were part of a political conspiracy to undermine him.

Ibrahim's lawyer said the authorities let Anwar attend the funeral because the public expected it.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well of course they will try to capitalise on this and say they have allowed him to pay his last respects to his brother but we hope this is a normal thing. It shouldn't be able to give them any advantage just because they allowed him to pay his last respects. I think the people expect that."
SUPER CAPTION: Zainur Zakaria, Anwar Ibrahim's Lawyer

The opposition suffered a major blow on Saturday when Anwar announced through his lawyers that he had decided not to contest a Parliament seat from behind bars.

He said he assumed he would be disqualified.

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