Keadilan Youth, in announcing its thorough frustration with the courts for apparently delaying several of Anwar Ibrahim's appeals and bail applications, has called for a judicial tribunal to review the conduct of all three Court of Appeal judges and the chief justice.

And if necessary, said youth leader Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, the tribunal should "sack all of them for purposely delaying" the appeal of the former deputy premier.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal notified Anwar's lawyers that they will only get their chance to submitfresh arguments to his bail application on Dec 8.

The decision by the Court of Appeal on the bail application pending the disposal of his appeal against the conviction and sentence of nine years for sodomy, has been hanging since July 23.

Mohd Ezam called the decision to set the hearing on such a "far away" date, as an "insult and gross injustice against Anwar, and against us."

"There is always a four month wait for every attempt we make (to appeal or to put in an application)," he said.

Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh, said Ezam, also failed to reply to the party's request for an appointment to discuss the delays in hearing Anwar's appeals.

International lobby

In an emergency BA youth meeting yesterday - which included PAS Youth secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusof, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy Youth chief Faisal Sanusi - a decision was made to step up the pressure in demanding a judicial review.

Among the actions in store, said Mohd Ezam, is the distribution of Anwar's appeal letter throughout the country, a campaign to lobby the European Union and Asean, and to engage prominent international figures in that fight.

Mohd Ezam said that unless the government makes a presentation to the King to set up a judicial tribunal on the conduct of the CJ, it will have to face another embarrassing round of campaigns publicising judicial misconduct.

To date, the following Anwar cases are scheduled to be heard:

  • Review of Federal Court ruling in dismissing his appeal against the conviction and sentence of six years' jail for corrupt practices (the hearing was last heard on March 18);
  • Decision by Court of Appeal (pending since July 23) on bail application pending the disposal of his appeal against the conviction and sentence of nine years for sodomy, and application to submit fresh arguments to support this (filed last week); and
  • Appeal to the Federal Court against the conviction and sentence for sodomy, and subsequent application to the Court of Appeal to review its own decision to dismiss this appeal.