The family and supporters of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim have given the government 24 hours to comply with their demands to allow the jailed and ailing politician to seek proper medical treatment.

Should the government fail to respond, Free Anwar Movement (FAM) spokesperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin said the movement would resort to 'certain measures' but declined to elaborate.

"There will be two to three actions we will take but we will make an announcement on these actions only tonight," he added when contacted.

During a 900-strong gathering at Anwar's residence in Kuala Lumpur last night, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders and human rights activists drew up three demands on behalf of the ailing politician.

"Anwar should be given the required treatment and be placed in a hospital ward as was suggested by his doctor. His medical records should also be exposed to the public.

"Anwar should immediately have his medical rights fulfilled in the form of a surgery on his back as he demands," said Badrul Hisham in an earlier statement.

Among those who endorsed the demands where Anwar's wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, vice-presidents Tian Chua and Dr Sanusi Osman, Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor and Women's wing chief Fuziah Salleh.

Others who endorsed the demands were DAP state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim, PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, PAS central committee member Mahfuz Omar, Suaram executive director Cynthia Gabriel and Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (Abim) vice president Yusri Mohamad.

Fear of paralysis

Last Friday, Wan Azizah revealed that her husband was in danger of becoming paralysed if the authorities do not provide him with proper medical facilities or deny him an endoscopic surgery in Germany.

Earlier in the week, he was sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur after he complained of discomfort during urination and that blood was found in his urine.

Aside from the gathering, party activists also distributed pamphlets on Anwar's condition outside the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur but were later prevented from doing so by police officers.

Anwar is currently serving a nine-year jail sentence for sodomy at the Sungai Buloh prison while waiting for a decision on his appeal from the Federal Court.

The ex-deputy premier, who was sacked in 1998, has completed serving his sentence for a corruption conviction.