Jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was ordered today to pay Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad another RM35,381 in court costs over his failed attempt to sue the premier for libel.

The amount comes on top of RM103,773 which Anwar was ordered to pay Mahathir last year after his failed attempts at the High Court and the Federal Court.

Today's order was made by Court of Appeal deputy registrar Mohamad Nasir Yahya as costs for Anwar's unsuccessful appeal against the High Court decision to strike out his libel suit against the premier.

Anwar was sacked by Mahathir as deputy premier on Sept 2, 1998 on the grounds of immorality and detained 18 days later after leading mass anti-government protests.

Two days after Anwar's arrest, Mahathir called a press conference to give his reasons for the sacking.

In January 1999 Anwar lodged a RM100 million defamation suit over the remarks. He said Mahathir defamed him while he was in detention and unable to defend himself.

But a High Court judge in August 1999 ruled it was Mahathir's right as prime minister to comment on the reasons for the dismissal. Both the Appeal Court and Federal Court have upheld the decision.

Anwar is serving a total of 15 years in jail after being convicted for abuse of powers and sodomy. He says he was framed to avert a political challenge to Mahathir, an allegation denied by the government.