Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has recalled the painful night his mother died while he was serving time in prison, describing it as one of the most difficult moments of his life.
Anwar said being behind bars and unable to be with his mother as she took her final breath was an immense ordeal.
‘The most painful night’
“That night was indeed the most painful night for me. Imagine your beloved mother returning to the mercy of Allah while you are confined to a prison cell,” he said while appearing as a guest on the Sembang OhhYeahh podcast.
He said he could do nothing except pray, read the Quran and perform prayers. The following day, he was allowed to leave prison to return home and perform the funeral prayers.
Recalling the episode, Anwar said he was informed by his wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, that his mother was critically ill.
He said he then pleaded to be allowed to see her, even if only briefly.
Given permission to see his mother
After making repeated appeals, Anwar said he was eventually allowed to see his mother at the hospital for about half an hour.
Although critically ill, his mother was conscious and happy when he saw her, he recalled.
Anwar then returned to prison, but his mother died shortly afterwards.
He said losing a parent was difficult for anyone, but the death of a mother had a deeper emotional impact on him than the loss of his father.
“Losing a mother is much more difficult than losing a father. Losing a father is difficult, but it is not the same as losing a mother,” he said.
Recalling hardships in detention
Apart from his mother’s death, Anwar also spoke about the hardships he experienced while in detention, including being beaten unconscious on his first day in prison.
Despite the difficulties, he said he never gave up because he remained mindful of the younger generation and his struggle to bring about change and save the country from corruption and oppression.
“This struggle is not easy and comes at a high price. If I give up, the entire generation will be left behind,” he said.
