Salleh: Even PMs need to follow the law on visiting prisoners

He says Dr Mahathir Mohamad has to follow proper procedures before he can visit a prisoner.

 

(FMT) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as a former prime minister, should know that there are procedures involved when visiting prisoners, Salleh Said Keruak said today.

“There is a procedure involved and Mahathir, as Pakatan’s PM-in-waiting, should be the first to set a good example and not abuse his power or violate the law.

“If not, he would be teaching Malaysians that if you are a ‘somebody’ then you need not follow the law,” the communications and multimedia minister posted on his blog today.

Salleh was commenting on a news report today that Mahathir was not allowed by prison authorities to visit PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who underwent surgery at KL Hospital for a shoulder ailment in November, is undergoing further treatment at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital.

“Mahathir of all people should know that one cannot simply drop in to meet a prisoner. Did Mahathir followed the proper procedure?

“Even wives cannot visit husbands in prison if the proper procedure is not followed.

“Wives and lawyers need to first be approved before they can visit prisoners and even then there is an approved time and date that the visit can be made.”

Salleh said there was no such thing as an ad hoc or surprise visit and it could not exceed the number of allowed hours a week.

“Anyway, it appears strange that before this, Mahathir had absolutely no interest in visiting Anwar in prison,” Salleh said.

Anwar was in prison from 1998 to 2004 and then from 2015 till now. But Mahathir never wanted to visit Anwar in prison, Salleh added.

“In 1998, Anwar was admitted to hospital because of his ‘mata lebam’ (swollen eye) and Mahathir did not show any concern in wanting to visit him.

“Now, however, since Mahathir needs Anwar to endorse him as Pakatan’s PM-in-waiting, he is suddenly so excited about visiting Anwar in prison.”

Mahathir had told reporters that the minister of home affairs had barred him from visiting Anwar.

“All I wanted to do was visit Anwar and thank Anwar personally on PH reaching a consensus,” he said.

Mahathir said he also wanted to see Anwar to thank him for agreeing to him being PH’s prime minister candidate in the coming general election.

Anwar is serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomy.

He started serving the sentence in 2015 and is due to be released on June 8 after getting a one-third remission on the sentence for good behaviour.