H-Net* So, was Anwar poisoned or not?

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GOVERNMENT WON The opposition tried to do a wrong thing: To seek the people's sympathy by claiming the government was poisoning Anwar. But they have been defeated. I believe the people know what they were up to now. - Umno Youth information chief Mohd Suparadi NO! I'd say most people still believe Anwar was poisoned. - Pro-Anwar academic Dr Rustam Sani NO ONE WON The government has done successful damage control. Those who had doubts can now say 'You guys dreamt it up'. But people are critical of the government for other reasons. I don't think many changed sides. - National Justice Party vice-president Tian Chua  So, was Anwar poisoned or not? BY WOON WUI TEK FROM KL Oct 11, 1999 A medical report written by doctors from three countries says former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim did not show signs of arsenic poisoning, as he had alleged. But some of his supporters insist that questions remain unanswered... SO, which side has gained more mileage from the "he was poisoned, he wasn't" controversy? That depends on who you talk to. After speaking to several people of different political leanings, I came to the conclusion that there are three views on the affair: More Malaysians now distrust the opposition. It hasn't made too many voters switch sides. Most believe that the jailed Anwar was indeed the victim of a poison plot. A lot of political heat has been generated since Anwar's lawyers told the High Court on Sept 10 that an Australian laboratory had detected arsenic in his urine. But tests subsequently done on Anwar showed that he did not have "clinical signs of acute chronic arsenic poisoning". So, to some in the ruling National Front, the picture is clear. The opposition has been shown to have falsely "accused the government of poisoning Anwar". Said Mr Mohd Suparadi, Umno youth information chief: "People now know the truth about these people." Not surprisingly, some opposition figures put their own spin on it. "First, we never accused the government of poisoning Anwar," said Mr Tian Chua of the National Justice Party - which is led by Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. "In our demonstrations, we only asked for an independent investigation. However, the official attitude seemed to be more 'cover up' than 'verify'." But what do voters think? "People who doubted there was a poison plot can now say 'you guys made this up'. But many people were critical of the government due to other issues. I know some who now think Anwar wasn't poisoned, but still plan to vote against the government," Mr Tian Chua said. But he admitted the latest tests give the government "more ammunition to attack the opposition". A stronger stance is taken by academic Rustam Sani, also an opposition figure. He feels most people still believe Anwar was poisoned. Dr Rustam thinks voters are unhappy that full test findings on the arsenic case were not released quickly. PERSONAL VIEWS But do they personally think Anwar was poisoned? Umno's Mr Suparadi replied: "No. This is simply a lie. She (Anwar's wife) had earlier claimed he had been injected with HIV and that was not true either." But Dr Rustam said: "We have the evidence of the first report (the Melbourne tests that showed arsenic in the urine)." Mr Tian Chua said: "I am sure that Anwar had high levels of arsenic. That's unhealthy....You could say it could have been a trap, a mild poisoning or something - and the opposition walked into it. But I don't want to make that accusation."