Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is undergoing a rehabilitation programme following a spinal surgery in Germany last Monday, is expected to return to Malaysia by mid-October.

His aide Mohamed Azmin Ali told malaysiakini that Anwar plans to perform umrah (pilgrimage) in Mecca, which may last about two weeks, soon after he is declared fit to travel.

"If all goes well, he will be discharged from Alpha Clinic in a month's time. If his doctor is satisfied that he is well, then he may fly straight to Mecca (in Saudi Arabia). We expect him to be home in Malaysia before the fasting month starts," said Azmin when contacted.

The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Oct 15.

Anwar left for Munich last Saturday night , three days after the Federal Court quashed his conviction and nine-year jail sentence for a sodomy offence.

On Monday, he underwent an almost two-hour surgery performed by surgeon Dr Thomas Hoogland.

Prior to his freedom, he was hospitalised in Kuala Lumpur beginning June 12 for an excruciating back pain which was later diagnosed by Hoogland as spinal stenosis, a narrowing of spaces in the spine that results in pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Speaking on Anwar's health condition, Azmin said that Anwar's muscles are still stiff and his limbs had to be moved slowly when completing his first physiotherapy on Wednesday evening.

"A four-week programme, which was prepared for him by Dr Hoogland, has just begun. The programme will enable him to regain mobility, adequate strength of his back and leg muscles before reverting back to his normal physical condition."

Optimistic about decision

Asked on Anwar's feelings on the outcome of his review which will be decided by the Federal Court next Wednesday, Azmin said that the former deputy premier is "optimistic".

"He is confident that based on the laws and evidence, he would be cleared from the corruption conviction. The fact that he has served the sentence is not important as his primary concern is to clear his name.

"If they (the authorities) want to strengthen public's confidence on the independence of the judiciary, which has been spurred by the federal court decision to free him from the sodomy charge, he believes that the decision will be in his favour."

Anwar had applied to the federal court to review its earlier decision - a rare move- in upholding his conviction for corrupt practices for "tampering into police investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct" to completely clear his name.

He will be able to play an active role in politics if the court sets aside the conviction and the six-year jail sentence, which he had completed on April 14, 2003.

Meanwhile, Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the president of opposition political party Parti Keadilan Rakyat, said in a statement today expressed her gratitude for the support and prayers which had helped ease their burden.

She also thanked all those who had spared time to visit Anwar in Munich, among others, a number of German Muslim leaders from Munich Islamic Centre, Al Dessouki.

"This included the translator of Al Quran into German language, Ahmad von Denffer," she said.