The judicial review and appeal hearing of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's corruption and sodomy charges o­n March 18 and 24 respectively are part of the premier's plan to "keep his deputy in check", claimed an opposition activist today.

Free Anwar Campaign (FAC) director Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin said he believed that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who left for overseas yesterday o­n a two-month leave wanted to solve this issue before he steps down later this year.

"The timing is not coincidental. It is all engineered. Mahathir knows that Anwar is still part of the formula for Malay unity.

"But the prime minister does not want to settle this issue himself because this could tarnish his image further," he said when contacted.

According to him, it was for this reason that Mahathir had chosen to pass the hot potato to his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who will be the acting premier during his absence.

Raja Petra said by doing so the premier hoped to pit his "adversary" Anwar against his "possible adversary" Abdullah.

"Abdullah will face much difficulties in deciding the government's stand o­n Anwar, as reflected in the outcome of the hearings later this month.

"This is because Abdullah is said to be Mr Nice Guy. Many people believe that his leadership style is the opposite of Mahathir's.

Mahathir's wrath

In view of this, the opposition activist said if Anwar was not released and the issues regarding his "unjust trials" are not brought to a closure, Abdullah will lose his moral ground and be seen as no different than the premier.

On the other hand, if the premier-in-waiting decided to correct the irregularities in the previous Anwar trials, he may risk incurring Mahathir's wrath.

"Furthermore, Abdullah will find it hard to handle Anwar as a free man. While Anwar's release will boost Abdullah's image, it may also turn into a threat to him," he said.

Raja Petra said the outcome of this month's hearings would be based o­n political grounds and whatever the outcome is, "Mahathir will emerge as the winner who gains most while Abdullah will continue to be sandwiched between Mahathir and Anwar".

The former deputy prime minister, who was sacked from his position in 1998, is currently undergoing a 15-year sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison for both sodomy and corrupt practices.

Anwar claimed to be the victim of a political conspiracy spearheaded by the premier and alleged that the charges against him were fabricated. Mahathir has denied this.

Last month, the Federal Court decided to review o­n March 18 its earlier decision to uphold Anwar's conviction and sentence for corruption in 1999. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal fixed March 24 to hear his appeal against the sodomy conviction.

National campaign

In a related development, Keadilan will embark o­n a national campaign this week calling for the jailed politician to be freed before April 14 the date he was convicted for the corruption charge.

The campaign to be headed by his wife and party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail - will see rallies being staged nationwide, starting with Selangor o­n Friday.

On April 12, there will be a mass gathering at the PAS headquarters in Gombak, Selangor, which is expected to see the presence of numerous opposition leaders.

Anwar's lawyer argued that he has served two-thirds of his sentence for the corruption charge and therefore was eligible for release o­n the grounds of good behaviour while his appeal against the sodomy charge proceeds. Anwar was sentenced to six-years jail for corruption.