Sacked former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim ended his testimony today amidst a showdown between High Court judge Arifin Jaka and lead prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail.

Arifin, visibly annoyed, snapped at Gani for asking ridiculous questions while cross-examining Anwar. The prosecutor had asked Anwar if his cell door was constantly locked while he was detained at Bukit Aman.

"You ask something that is ridiculous," Arifin said.

Having been picked on by the judge during the last two days of Anwar's cross-examination, an exasperated Gani retorted, "Maybe it is ridiculous. Maybe I am dumb but let me ask the question", to the amusement of those seated in the public gallery.

Arifin, unable to contain his irritation, said: "Yes, go ahead. We can laugh later."

Arifin's anger did not deter Gani from asking further questions along similar lines. He asked the one-time heir apparent if he ventured out of his home after 8pm in 1993 for reasons other than to attend official engagements. Anwar witfully answered that he left his home to break fast with his father at their family home.

"How about between 5pm and 6pm," Gani Patail asked.

"Yes, for haircuts, supermarkets, badminton and horse-riding, I suppose," Anwar replied with a smile before the prosecution completed its cross-examination.

Arifin told Anwar to return to the dock but reminded him that he might have to give evidence later if the situation warrants it.

"We might need you to give evidence again later," Ariffin said, as the former prime minister candidate left the witness stand to be replaced by his adopted brother Sukma Dermawan Sastimaat Madja.

Anwar and Sukma are charged with sodomising driver Azizan Abu Bakar "on one night between Jan and March 1993 at 7.45pm."

Sukma testified that he came to Malaysia in 1977 to continue his studies and stayed with Anwar's family before the sodomy trial was postponed to Tuesday, where the court will hear further evidence from Sukma.

Anwar currently serves a six-year jail term for corruption and stands trial for sodomy and sexual misconduct. The jailed dissident had repeatedly asserted his innocence and said the charges were fabricated by high-ranking political leaders to topple him from power.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Sankara Nair told malaysiakini that the Court of Appeal will begin hearing Anwar's appeal to his corruption conviction on Feb 28. Anwar was found guilty by High Court judge Augustine Paul last year for using his position to pressure police officers to intimidate two individuals who had accused him of sodomy and sexual misconduct.