Jailed ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim hopes to be bailed tomorrow to seek medical treatment abroad, his lawyer said.

Sankara Nair, Anwar's lawyer told AFP today that the once heir apparent, would attend the Court of Appeal hearing despite severe back pain.

"He is not well but his spirits are high. He is expecting a fair hearing," Nair told AFP . "We hope our client can go home and not remain in jail," he said.

Delay is injustice

Anwar is being held at the Sungai Buloh prison where he is serving the first year of a nine-year jail term for sodomy after completing four years for corruption. Anwar is appealing against his sodomy conviction and the sentence.

Once seen as heir to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar claims he was sacked and charged to prevent a political challenge to Mahathir.

The United States and human rights group Amnesty International list him as a political prisoner.

Nair said Anwar was disappointed with the court for the five-month delay in announcing their decision about his bail application. The decision by the Court of Appeal has been hanging since July 23.

"We don't want the silence of the court's to continue," he said. "The delay itself is injustice." - AFP