Anwar visits dad one last time; Dr M also pays last respects
(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived at the home of his father, Datuk Ibrahim Abdul Rahman, to bid his final farewell to the latter who died early this morning.
The jailed PKR de facto leader was given special dispensation to leave Sungai Buloh Prison to visit his father at the latter’s home in Country Heights here.
Anwar arrived shortly after 11am and is currently inside the house.
Earlier, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also visited to pay his respects to the late Ibrahim, but left prior to Anwar’s arrival.
Top leaders from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were also spotted paying their final respects, including Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, PKR’s N. Surendran and DAP’s Liew Chin Tong.
Anwar’s daughter and Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah, arrived at noon and briefly acknowledged relatives in attendance before entering the house to pay her last respect to Ibrahim.
Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali arrived around the same time as Anwar, as did Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who was also present, said he was grateful that Zahid allowed Anwar to be released for the day.
“I would like to thank the home minister for allowing Datuk Seri (Anwar) to visit his father for last time. That is a good thing to do,” he said.
A close relative who declined to be named described Ibrahim as a man with strong focus in his political career.
“A man who will not let anything distract him while at work. Very inspirational,” the person said.
“Now you may have heard of many things about Anwar and his family. But let’s remember the man (Ibrahim) as a good person.”
About 250 people were seen sitting or standing in silence, casting occasional glances at the 10 or so police officers and vehicles from Prison Department that transported Anwar from the prison earlier.
Ibrahim was a former Umno lawmaker who had served as Seberang Prai Central MP from 1959 to 1969. He had also been the parliamentary secretary of the Health Ministry from 1964 to 1969 .
Anwar is currently serving a five-year jail sentence after the Federal Court on February 10 upheld his conviction for sodomising a former aide.
