The Federal Court has set July 30 to hear Anwar Ibrahim's bid to challenge the legality of his dismissal as deputy premier and finance minister in 1998.

anwar ibrahim and mahathir argue fight Anwar - who is now opposition leader - was sacked by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who cited (alleged) moral transgressions as the reason.

The Federal Court will decide if the sacking was done in accordance with the constitution as Mahathir had only informed the King about the matter after he had already sacked Anwar.

In April 2007, the Appellate Court upheld the High Court's decision that the dismissal was in accordance to law.

The case was initially fixed for hearing today before a three member panel comprising Court of Appeal president Alauddin Mohd Sheriff and Federal Court judges Hashim Yusoff and Mohd Ghazali Mohd Yusoff.

High Court: PM has the power

According to Bernama , Federal Court registry official said the case was rescheduled for tomorrow, but postponed to July 30, as counsel Karpal Singh, representing Anwar, was not free tomorrow.

The apex court on June 16 last year had granted leave to Anwar to appeal against a High Court's ruling that his dismissal as deputy prime minister and finance minister was lawfully executed by Mahathir.

It ruled that the prime minister had the power to dismiss any minister in the cabinet and that he could at any time advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is bound to act on his advice.

The High Court had on Dec 23, 1998, struck out Anwar’s civil action for an order that his dismissal from the cabinet on Sept 2, 1998, was unlawful.

Senior federal counsel Kamaluddin Md Said represented Mahathir.