Sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial has been postponed to Wednesday next week to allow the defence to serve their affidavit on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The defence is seeking Mahathir to testify as a witness in the trial. Lead defence counsel Christopher Fernando, in requesting that the trial be put off till next week, told the court that "the defence would like to give Mahathir a chance to reply to the affidavit and raise objections if he wants to".

Anwar filed his affidavit last Thursday to High Court judge Arifin Jaka on the reasons why Mahathir should appear in court. Defence is expected to serve the affidavit on Mahathir tomorrow.

If Mahathir raises objections to testifying at his former deputy's trial, he would have to submit his own written affidavit to Arifin. Arifin would decide, next Wednesday, if Mahathir should appear as a witness.

"If Dr Mahathir does come, we might dispense with some other witnesses like Tun Daim (Zainuddin) and Megat Junid," Fernando told the court.

Mahathir, who was served with a subpeona last November, has repeatedly told reporters that he is willing to appear in court. The premier, however, said he would only answer questions which are relevant to the sodomy charges and not relating to conspiracy.

Anwar maintains his shock dismissal is part of a political conspiracy, orchestrated by Mahathir's aides, to shame him, tarnish his image and topple him from power.

Meanwhile, Fernando also said the postponement will enable Anwar to attend the trial of Malaysia's former police chief, Rahim Noor, which is scheduled to resume tomorrow. Anwar is expected to be the key witness at the trial where Rahim is charged with attempting to causing grievous hurt to the former deputy prime minister.

The trial was postponed to tomorrow as Rahim's counsel told the Sessions Court that he is medically unfit to attend court.

After he was sacked and later arrested, Anwar appeared in court with a black eye and said he was beaten while in police custody.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry found Rahim solely responsible for causing Anwar's injuries after hearing lengthy testimonies from police officers.

Apart from that, Fernando told Arifin the defence team needs time to prepare for the appeal hearing of Anwar's counsel Zainur Zakaria which is fixed for next Tuesday.

Zainur was cited for contempt last year by judge Augustine Paul for filing an affidavit to disqualify lead prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail and Mohd Azahar Mohamed from the corruption trial of Anwar.

The affidavit, which was filed on behalf of Anwar, alleged Gani and Azahar tried to persuade Anwar's businessman friend S. Nallakaruppan to fabricate evidence against the former Mahathir's heir apparent.

Anwar currently is serving a six-year jail term for corruption relating to abusing his power while in office and stands trial for a separate charge of sodomy and sexual misconduct. He has repeatedly denied all charges and maintains they were fabricated to end his political career.