It is saddening to hear that Anwar Ibrahim's medical condition is deteriorating . However, I just cannot understand why he insists the surgery be done overseas.

Hundreds of such operations have been done in Malaysian public hospitals with minimal complications. The persistent refusal of Anwar to refuse surgery by local specialists makes me think that he is just trying to escape overseas through a 'backdoor'.

Malaysian orthopaedic surgeons are competent enough to perform endoscopic surgery. Please do not insult our local doctors as though that they are inferior to foreign doctors. Most of them are trained overseas, anyway.

And most doctors in the public sector are not politicians. It is a fact that the Malaysian government's decision to bar Anwar from seeking treatment overseas is political.

However, his refusal to have the treatment done locally can be seen as gambling his health for political gain in that he hopes to garner support while overseas (if he gets the opportunity). This is irresponsible, as his body was given by God, (the way I see it).

Anyway, Malaysian doctors are not a bunch of government hired 'assassins' to kill political opponents on the operating table.