Najib Razak was transferred to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) because he required physiotherapy, Khairy Jamaluddin said.
The Health Minister dismissed claims that Najib was accorded special treatment.
“(There is) no special treatment. There was a request by the deputy public prosecutor for proceedings to be adjourned so Najib can receive the required medical attention.
“Following this, he was referred to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) where he was treated for his medical condition and he went through a battery of tests,” he said at a press conference today.
Khairy said that after the HKL check-up, Najib was referred to the CRH because of the follow-up treatment required physiotherapy.
“And part of that is, of course, to teach him how to do it himself, because he will be discharged once the specialists are satisfied that he no longer requires to be admitted,” he said.
Earlier today, the Prison Department confirmed Najib was admitted to CRH for treatment.
“On September 19, HKL referred Najib to the CRH, for further treatment and monitoring.
“Najib will be sent back to the Kajang prison to serve his jail sentence once he is given medical clearance by specialists at CRH or HKL,” the department said in a statement.
Khairy stressed that he did not interfere with the arrangements granted to Najib.
He added that the Health Ministry continued to conduct its duties professionally according to procedures and guidelines.
“We do this so there are no disputes from Najib’s family or Najib himself that no (medical) treatment was given, so we have completed all examinations that had been requested.
“As soon as the doctors, based on their professional judgment, say he can be discharged, he will be sent back to Kajang. I can’t answer when, because that’s me interfering. I didn’t even ask the (Health) DG (director-general),” he said.
He also said Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said the specialists were preparing the medical records to brief Najib’s family.
“The doctors will have a family conference with him and his family to inform about his current situation and his treatment plan, and of his physiotherapy exercises, then he will be sent back after that.
“It should not be long (before he goes back to prison).”
Khairy also added that HKL has been instructed to conduct an investigation into an alleged tweet by one of its doctors who treated Najib and revealed information regarding the Pekan MP.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have warned the government against pressuring medical officers treating Najib to act against their will.
This is amid allegations that the public healthcare system was being abused to give the convicted former premier – who is supposed to serve 12 years in jail – preferential treatment and liberties.