Supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim will launch mass rallies and cross-country convoys over the weekend to press for his release ahead of his bail hearing next week, opposition officials said today.

Keadilan, headed by Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and the Free Anwar Movement has planned a one-month cross-country convoy that will culminate in a rally of 100,000 people in his homestate Penang on Feb 14, officials said.

The demonstration will begin Saturday with a small convoy of cars driving around in central Selangor state to distribute leaflets to the public, Keadilan's youth information chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin told AFP .

On Sunday, up to 100 cars bearing flags with pictures of Anwar's face or Keadilan logo are expected to drive through Kuala Lumpur city and urban areas, he said.

The convoy, also supported by the opposition Islamic Party (PAS) and Democratic Action Party (DAP), will distribute leaflets highlighting Anwar's deteriorating health and human rights issues, he said.

It is aimed at testing new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's tolerance for open dissent, he said. Abdullah took over from veteran Mahathir Mohamad who retired Oct 31 after 22 years in power.

"We want to revive public awareness over Anwar's case, that it is not yet resolved" despite the retirement of Mahathir who sacked the politician in 1998, Badrul said.

"We want Anwar to be freed on bail before the upcoming general elections."

Court hearing

The weekend programme comes ahead of a court hearing on Monday over a request by Anwar, who is serving a total of 15 years in jail for corruption and sodomy after his detention in 1998, to be freed on bail.

His lawyer Sankara Nair said Anwar has a strong case because all his previous court hearings were flawed and the politician needed treatment overseas urgently for a worsening back injury.

Apart from the bail application, the Court of Appeal will also review a decision it made in April last year to uphold Anwar's conviction and sentencing for sodomy, he said.

Malaysia is due to hold general elections by the end of the year, but polls are widely tipped to be called by April. Anwar will be barred from contesting in general elections for five years after his release. - AFP