Incarcerated opposition stalwart Anwar Ibrahim has accused his one time ally turned rival Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of 'abusing' his family.
The PKR de facto leader said he has no qualms if the authorities subjected him to be abuse.
"Abuse Anwar. I understand. I have no problems with that. But don’t abuse my family. They find it difficult to even meet me ... let them meet me.
"I am asking Zahid to consider ..." Anwar told reporters at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today.
Anwar complained that his son, who is leaving for New York, has also been restricted from meeting him.
"They have already restricted my lawyers with regard to meeting me when there are a lot of cases (to discuss).
"Now they even restricted my son from seeing me," he added.
Anwar said he is highlighting this to the media so that they would know he could not even receive or make notes.
As he was speaking, prison officers accompanied him to the witness room.
Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, is also the home minister and the Prisons Department falls under his jurisdiction.
Imposed more restrictions
Earlier, lawyer Latheefa Koya, who is PKR central committee member, said lawyer Shahid Adli Kamaruddin went to Sungai Buloh prison to meet Anwar today but left after waiting for close to two hours.
“They are tightening the rules. It was not like this before,” she complained in court.
PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar ( photo ) had said that following claims of a plot against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the prison authorities have imposed more restrictions on her father.
"Meetings with his lawyers have also been reduced," Lembah Pantai MP said, adding that his access to the prison library has also been curbed, forcing him to spend most of his time in the cell.
Anwar was in court today for clarification or possible decision on his RM100 million suit against Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, who at a press conference in Washington claimed that Anwar had offered him and other politicians money if he was willing to switch sides in the infamous Sept 16, 2008 target.
Instead, lawyers Razlan Hadri Zulkifli and J Leela appearing for Anwar, and Umno-linked lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for Anifah ( photo ) met judicial commissioner Siti Khadijah Badjenid in her chambers.
Razlan told reporters later the court has now fixed Oct 29 for decision and there is no need for clarification.
The public gallery was filled to the brim with PKR supporters and federal lawmakers including Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, Wangsa Maju MP Dr Tan Kee Kwong, Batu MP Tian Chua, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Permatang Pauh), Nurul Izzah and Anwar's family members.
Others were Gerakan Harapan Baru leaders Khalid Samad (Shah Alam MP) and Kamaruddin Jaafar (Tumpat MP), and PAS' Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (Batu Burok assemblyperson).
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