Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim took a Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) flight at 11.50pm to Germany for a major spinal surgery.

Anwar, who won a surprise appeal on Thursday against his conviction and nine-year sentence for sodomy, was escorted to Kuala Lumpur International Airport from his house by a convoy of hundreds of cars at about 9pm.

More than 5,000 supporters, including key opposition and civil society leaders, arrived at the airport's departure hall to send him off.

Bearing banners of support for Anwar, well-wishers' shouts of 'reformasi' and 'Hidup Anwar!' (Long Live Anwar!) reverberated throughout the departure hall as travellers looked around nervously with incomprehension at the near-riot situation they suddenly found themselves in.

Airport security and police officers in uniform perspired with the effort to manage the surging crowd, hundreds of whom rushed from one side of the hall to another to catch a glimpse of the former deputy premier.

At times, the crowd threatened to overwhelm the core circle of Keadilan leaders and minders who were struggling to see Anwar, who was in a wheelchair, safely through to board flight MH 006.

At around 11 o'clock, Anwar - who wore a smart long-sleeve maroon shirt, along with his neck and back braces - waved to the masses of screaming and clapping people who were above him at the departure level, before passing through immigration counter.

Last-minute hitch

Earlier today, Anwar's aide Azmin Ali said that there was a last-minute hitch to the Saudi Arabian government's offer of a private jet to ferry Anwar to Munich.

"As Friday is a public holiday in Saudi (Arabia) and offices only start operating today, it would have taken more time to obtain approval (for the jet) from the Saudi authorities," Azmin told reporters at Anwar's Bukit Damansara house.

Anwar, who is experiencing severe back pain, was advised against waiting another day and thus opted to take the grueling 15-hour MAS flight, which involves a stopover in Frankfurt before proceeding to Munich on a Lufthansa flight.

"We have no choice but to arrange for a (flight on a) commerical aircraft to arrive in Munich Airport tomorrow. From there, he will brought directly to the hospital where he is put under observation for 24 hours," said Azmin.

"All expenses, flight and operation, will be borne by family members," he added.

Crucial surgery on Monday

He said that Dr Thomas Hoogland of AlphaKlinik Hospital is preparing to begin the crucial surgery on Monday, expected to last between three and five hours.

Anwar is suffering from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of spaces in the spine that results in pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Joining Anwar on the trip were Azmin, Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and son Muhammad Ihsan, his private doctor Dr Halili Ahmad and three other aides.

If there are no complications, Anwar - who has expressed his intention to return to active politics after his treatment - is expected to be back in Malaysia in three weeks.

Azmin said a special room within the hospital will be used as a media centre to keep Anwar's supporters informed on his progress.

"If there are complications, he will have to extend his stay in Munich...."

'Gov't need not worry'

Anwar, 57, who is wearing neck and back braces and moves around in a wheelchair, spent his second day resting and greeting a steady stream of well-wishers at his house.

He told reporters that he appreciated the help from both the prison and hospital authorities in expediting his medical treatment.

Anwar also sought to allay concerns of some quarters that his release from prison and his return to active politics would bring further turbulence to the country's political landscape.

The government need not worry as his struggle for democratic reforms had always been through peaceful means, he stressed.

In the months following his arrest in 1998, Kuala Lumpur was rocked by a series of massive demonstrations demanding political reforms.

In an emotional moment this afternoon, he received a tight hug from Nurul Izzah, the eldest of his six children, before her graduation ceremony at Universiti Tenaga Nasional.

"I am sorry I cannot be there, I am very proud of you," Anwar told his 24-year-old daughter, to loud cheers from supporters.

Anwar told reporters later he "felt sad" but proud that his daughter had graduated top of the class in her electrical engineering degree, despite taking a year off to cope with the turmoil after his sacking and detention six years ago.

Nurul Izzah said she hoped to join her father in Munich next week.

- Additional reporting by AFP