The cross-appeal by prosecutors to push for a longer jail sentence in Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II conviction is a “clear attempt to end his political career”.

PKR vice-president N Surendran ( left ), a lawyer, said in a statement today that the cross-appeal in the Federal Court is “selective, vicious and politically motivated”.

The Court of Appeal last month sentenced Anwar to five years in jail, following the prosecution’s appeal against his acquittal by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

“Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and the BN government are wholly responsible for this latest persecution of Anwar,” Surendran said.

“The government's corrupt and underhand attempt to jail (him) is a frontal assault upon our system of parliamentary democracy.”

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Eric Paulsen also criticised the cross-appeal, saying that it is an "understatement" that the Attorney-General's Chambers is not independent in politically-motivated cases.

"This appeal once again makes clear that when it comes to cases concerning Anwar, the AG’s Chambers will go to the extreme, to the extent of being malicious and cruel, so as to ensure that he does not pose a challenge to the BN," Paulsen ( right ) said in a statement.

He said LFL has been "shocked and appalled" by the push for a longer sentence, and called it a calculated move to end the political careers of both Anwar and DAP supremo Karpal Singh.

Karpal was fined RM 4,000 after he was found guilty of sedition by the High Court and in its cross-appeal at the Court of Appeal, the prosecution is pushing for a jail sentence against him.

"We therefore call upon the attorney-general to withdraw the appeals against Anwar and Karpal and instead to work towards restoring public confidence of the rightful role of the AG’s Chambers, one that is dignified, just and free from political interference," Paulsen added.