Opposition Leader and PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim has canceled his two-day visit to Penang scheduled to kick off today.

A party insider said Anwar, who is Permatang Pauh parliamentarian, will be seeking medical treatment in Kuala Lumpur for his recurring back pain.

The insider is, however, unclear over the severity of the problem but added that it had worsened  because ofthe opposition leader’s hectic schedule demanded by the recent Sarawak election.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is expected to stand in for Anwar in Penang.

NONE Anwar was scheduled to attend about a dozen events in the island and the mainland during his visit.

Today, he was to attend a discussion on ‘ maqasid syariah ’ at the Dewan Sri Pinang in Georgetown.

Later, he had planned to attend Friday prayers at Masjid Batu, in Permatang Pauh and then leave for Hi-Tea at Nans Café in Kepala Batas before attending ‘maghrib’ prayers in Gelugor.

Mega-ceramah in Batu Maung

It is learnt that organisers of the Bukit Gelugor PRK division fundraising dinner where Anwar was supposed to spend two hours were informed last night of the change in plans.

The night was to have culminated in a mega-ceramah dubbed ' Ubah Sekarang, Selamatkan Malaysia ' (Change Now, Save Malaysia) in Batu Maung.

The former deputy prime minister faced the distinct possibility of journalists  raising question on a report in Malay language daily Berita Harian yesterday quoting the police as saying that he had been identified as the man in a controversial sex video.

Anwar would also have been queried on whether he would take up the challenge issued by his accusers to swear on the Quran to clear his name.