PKR thanks Zahid Hamidi for allowing Anwar to attend dad's funeral

KAJANG: PKR thanked Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the Prisons Department for allowing Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to pay his last respects to his father who passed away today morning. 

"It is the right thing to do. Both his parents passed away when he was in prison and the prisons department allowed him to visit them," said the party's secretary-general Rafizi Ramli. 

Anwar who was escorted by prison guards, arrived at his father’s residence here at around 10.40am.   

Padang Serai MP N. Surendran said that Anwar will be allowed to go to the Sungai Ramal Muslim Cemetery for the funeral and will be accompanied by Sungai Buloh Prisons Directors  Datuk Narinder Singh. 

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, former primer minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah and Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil were among others also present at the funeral. 
                                                                                                                   
Former Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon who was also present expressed his sadness by the death of Ibrahim whom he had known for 41 years.                                 

"I knew him before I knew Anwar. When I was in university, he was an MP. I came here for old times sake. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family," said Koh to reporters at Ibrahim's residence.   

PAS deputy president Mohammad Sabu also conveyed his deepest condolences to his family.         

"I pity Anwar because the first time he went to prison, his mother passed away. The second time he went to prison, his father passed away," he said.                                             

Ibrahim who was Seberang Perai Central MP from 1959 to 1969 passed away at 1.45am on Sunday. He was 96.