WASHINGTON, August 8, 2000 - World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn said today he was deeply distressed and troubled by the prison sentence given to former Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
"Anwar is not only a friend and a valued colleague, he was a distinguished chairman of our Development Committee and a man who believed in speaking his mind," said Wolfensohn. "Two years ago, we expressed the hope that he would get a fair chance to state his case. This sentence is very troubling. My thoughts are with Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and his family at this time."