An Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) human rights delegation will visit jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at the Sungai Buloh prison as part of their three-day mission in Malaysia which began today.

This visit occurs amid concerns of Anwar's deteriorating health, with the three-member IPU team examining the conditions in which the former opposition leader is being held, the delegation said in statement today.

The delegation from the organisation's Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians also plans to meet with government representatives and relevant authorities to discuss the legal proceedings which led to the Anwar's conviction for sodomy in February and the resulting five-year jail term.

This follows the committee's previously expressed concerns about the trial procedures against Anwar ( photo ) as well as the slew of charges that have been brought against him since 1999.

The former opposition leader has maintained that he is innocent and claims to be a victim of political conspiracy.

The IPU delegation also has plans to meet with Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and his daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar both who members of Parliament.

'Clarify Sedition Act amendments'

They will also be seeking clarification form government representatives on the alleged human rights violations of eight opposition MPs, including Nurul Izzah .

The Lembah Pantai MP ( photo ), was arrested in March after speaking out against the judiciary following her father's conviction.

The other MPs are either being charged with the Sedition Act or are under investigation for taking part in the pro-oppostion Kita Lawan rallies held in Kuala Lumpur beginning March.

One of those rallies was attended by about 10,000 people in support of Anwar and against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The question the delegation said it wants answered is how the amendments to the Sedition Act in April will affect the charges and investigations brought against the MPs and whether these accusations are in line with international standards of freedom of expression and assembly.