Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is not concerned whether the prosecution makes an appeal or not on his acquittal in the sodomy charge against him.

"This (the appeal) is not my business. But I recognise that this is accorded in law and by the constitution."

NONE "I hope there is no interference if the AG (attorney-general) makes an appeal," added Anwar ( left ), who has just returned from a visit to India and Turkey.

He was met by hundreds of people gathered at the Kampung Baru mosque in Kuala Lumpur, where he turned up after Friday prayers.

Anwar was acquitted of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at the Desa Damansara condominium on June 26, 2008.

In ordering his acquittal, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said the court could not accept the DNA evidence that was presented.

Saiful's father, Azlan Md Lazim, has urged the prosecution to appeal the matter in order to safeguard the dignity of his son and family.

Meeting the people

Solicitor-general II Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, who led the prosecution team, had indicated on Wednesday that he would recommend that an appeal be filed.

However, the Trial and Appeal Division head at AG's Chambers, Kamaluddin Md Said, said the division had yet to study Yusof's recommendation.

NONE After finishing Friday prayers, Anwar, smiling widely, took turns to shake the hands of well-wishers surrounding him.

Wearing a cream baju melayu and kain pelikat with a black songkok, Anwar took about 20 minutes mingling with the crowd while many flocked to shake his hands.

There were shouts of takbir (God is great) while others in the crowd advised Anwar to be careful of what "Barisan Nasional and Umno could do" to him.

Anwar is scheduled to attend the one-day Pakatan Rakyat convention in Alor Setar which will begin tomorrow.

Sankara: Let law and justice prevail

Meanwhile one of the lawyers in Anwar's defence team, Sankara Nair, said let law and justice prevail and there should not be any political interference.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's statement published in The Star today was "an admission that the government has a tendency to interfere" in the affairs of the attorney-general.

"The deputy prime minister has no business to allude to this matter of an appeal in the first place - as it is not within his jurisdiction.

"This statement by the deputy prime minister clearly gives the notion and raises grave suspicion that the Attorney-General's Chambers is not truly independent as enshrined under Article 145 of the federal constitution.

"Why come up with a statement with such implications if there has been no previous meddling by the ruling government - such as in Sodomy I and II.

"Furthermore, I do not see the point why everyone is jumping the gun including Saiful's father, when the written judgment by the trial judge is still not out,” said Sankara in a statement. 

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