A British MP and 39 lawyers in the United Kingdom have written a strongly-worded letter to the Malaysian prime minister, calling 'cruel' the appeal's court decision to deny bail to former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

The letter said the decision to deny bail "was not only particularly cruel in light of his dire medical condition but also represents a lost opportunity to begin to redress the gross injustice that he has suffered."

On Jan 21, the Court of Appeal rejected Anwar's application for bail pending his appeal against a sodomy conviction. Anwar's lawyers are expected to file a fresh bail application to the Federal Court soon.

Signatories to the letter, which included MP Jeremy Corbyn of UK's human rights committee, called on the new administration led by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to live up to the "ideals of compassion and respect for human rights" by releasing Anwar and enable him to secure medical treatment for his back injury.

Anwar Ibrahim, they said, "was convicted on trumped up charges at the instigation of the administration of your predecessor."

"He continues to suffer terribly from a serious back injury, itself exacerbated by his maltreatment on arrest and in detention. This has become progressively worse over the past year and he is now in urgent need of appropriate medical attention."

Anwar's right to safe and independent medical treatment of his choice should be respected, they added.

Feb 9 demonstrations

Anwar had claimed the right to seek endoscopic surgery in Germany for his slipped disc injury, which he claimed was exacerbated following his assault by then inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Mohd Noor. The government however, has insisted that he undergo surgery locally.

The letter was handed to the Malaysian high commission representative yesterday morning, said UK-based rights group Anti-ISA Movement UK (AIM UK).

Meanwhile, AIM UK spokesperson Liz Fekete announced that the movement will organise demonstrations on Feb 9 outside the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board in London to "call on Prime Minister Abdullah to restore democracy and human rights" in Malaysia. Feb 8 marks the 100 th day of Abdullah's premiership

The lobby group also plans to address the issue of Anwar's bail, the arrest of students under the Internal Security Act, and the conviction of migrant rights campaigner Irene Fernandez.