The defence team representing jailed former premier, Anwar Ibrahim, will be calling Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to testify in the High Court.

"We expect to call the Prime Minister by next Thursday as we still have some matters to sort out and at least five more witnesses to call," lead counsel Christopher Fernando told malaysiakini.

Anwar's adopted brother, Sukma Dermawan Sasmitaat Madja's counsel Gobind Singh Deo said Mahathir has to appear in court just like any other witnesses. "I don't know why the Prime Minister should be given an exemption," he said.

The prosecution, meanwhile, has made no move to set aside the subpoena which was served on Mahathir last November. The premier himself has repeatedly said he is willing to testify in court if the questions posed to him are relevant to the sodomy trial.

Anwar's lawyers had earlier said that they would also be calling senior ministers from the ruling National Front government to testify at the sensational sodomy trial.

Anwar and Sukma are charged with sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar "one night between January and March, 1993 at 7.45 pm". Sukma is also charged with abetting and aiding Anwar in sodomising the former driver.

The trial continues today with Sukma continuing his testimony. Lead prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail tried to adduce evidence that Sukma only renovated his bedroom and not the other rooms to show that the renovation could not have taken four months.

Sukma reiterated that he renovated his entire apartment including the master bedroom, kitchen, dining room and balcony. Yesterday, he testified that his apartment in Tivoli Villa, where the alleged sex act took place, was uninhibited until April 1993 due to the renovation work in progress.

Gani Patail, challenging the defence alibi by Sukma, repeatedly questioned him about the details of the renovation. Sukma, appearing calm and composed, said that he did not know the specific details.

"I was not staying in the apartment. My manager Rahim Mazlan handled the bulk of the renovation," he said. Sukma concluded his testimony today.

The defence later re-called Dr Zahari Noor to prove that Sukma's entire confession was fabricated. Sukma made a confession in November 1998 alleging that Anwar sodomised him but later revoked it and said he was forced to do so by the police.

Judge Arifin Jaka allowed Zahari to testify despite objections from Gani Patail who said that the case is focused on Sukma sodomising Azizan and not on him being sodomised. "Any examination of his rear end is of no relevance to this case," he said.

Zahari, at the start of the earlier trial, testified that Sukma's anus had never been penetrated by a blunt object like a penis. Today, he reiterated his former evidence and concluded that Sukma's anus showed no signs of anal penetration.

During cross examination however, Zahari conceded that physical injuries will not be obvious with consenting partners. He also told the court that lubricants, if used, would reduce the chances of injuries.

"It is also difficult to obtain medical evidence especially if such an act happened a long time back," he said ending his testimony.

Zahari swapped places with Rahim who took the witness stand to give a lengthy testimony involving excruciating details of the renovation carried out in Sukma's apartment. He insisted the renovation, which took four months to complete, started in December 1992 and ended in April 1993.

The trial resumes tomorrow with Rahim continuing with details of the renovation work. One-time heir apparent Anwar stands trial for sodomy and sexual misconduct. He is currently serving a six-year jail term for abuse of power while in office. Anwar has repeatedly denied all charges and says they are part of a high level conspiracy, which includes government leaders, to topple him from power.