Sacked deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who lost an appeal today against his conviction and nine-year sentence for sodomy, had an unconventional but meteroric rise in Malaysian politics until his spectacular falling-out with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Born in Penang o­n August 10, 1947, the hospital porter's son graduated from the University of Malaya and first came to public notice as a firebrand Islamic youth leader.

In 1971, he founded the Muslim Youth Movement, which posed a radical challenge to government values.

In 1974, he was detained under the Internal Security Act for leading a demonstration in support of poor rice farmers and spent 20 months in jail.