The Court of Appeal made a ruling today that former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim could be present in court for his civil case against the Election Commission.

A three-member bench led by Justice Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid unanimously allowed Anwar's application.

"However this is with regard to this case and not others. We make no order as to costs," she said.

The other judges were Justice Vernon Ong and Justice Hasnah Hashim.

After the ruling, Anwar told reporters that he had the right to be in court to give instructions to his lawyers.

He was initially allowed to attend proceedings related to his appeal, but the order to produce (OTP) was revoked by the deputy registrar, resulting in the hearing of the appeal last month to be postponed.

Anwar had filed a judicial review application against the EC in 2015, seeking a declaration that he was qualified to vote in the Permatang Pauh by-election in the same year and in all future elections. This was despite him serving a five-year jail sentence.

His lead counsel Gopal Sri Ram told the bench that his client has the constitutional right to be present and the denial of that right would have repercussions.

The senior lawyer argued that an appeal is a continuation of a trial from the High Court, and a person has the right to appear on an application to which he is a party.

“This common law right was crystalised as a fundamental right under Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution (on personal liberty),” said Sri Ram, a former Federal Court judge.

Senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh told the court that Anwar, as a prisoner, was not an ordinary person.

This, Amarjeet added, was a civil appeal with no issue on the need of witnesses being present.

Justice Ong then said if the person wanted to give instructions to his counsel, the court would have to postpone the hearing.

“Time is precious you know,” he added.

After a short break, the three-member bench delivered its decision to allow Anwar to be present.