High Court Judge Arifin Jaka threatened jailed deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim with contempt of court during a heated exchange in Anwar's sodomy trial this morning.

Anwar lost his temper when one of his counsels, Karpal Singh, and the judge couldn't agree on a point during the submission on the relevance of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's testimony in the trial.

"I just want to know whether you have made a decision or not," Anwar shouted.

Arifin in response said, "You sit down or I will charge you with contempt of court. Mr Karpal, please tell your client to sit down!"

Anwar said: "You charge me for whatever you want. You just tell me whether you have made a decision or not. If you've got instructions, say that you've got instructions."

Arifin, however, did not follow with a reply on Anwar's strong statement from the dock.

Karpal instead told Arifin, "I do not blame my client. I have been in the Bar for 30 years and we now have to plead and beg the court to call the prime minister as a witness. Please, my Lord, the whole world is looking at us."

Karpal told the judge that Mahathir's evidence was important and relevant to the court as "we want to show that he may be wrong in changing his mind in believing that Anwar had committed those crimes, in which he (Mahathir) himself admitted in his affidavit."

"The status of this witness ought to make no difference. Under the laws in our country, there is no difference between a king and a pauper when it comes to the court," Karpal added.

Karpal, in his submission, read paragraphs of Mahathir's affidavit to convince Arifin that the premier was a material witness. Arifin repeatedly intervened and told the lawyer that his points were irrelevant and the prime minister's affidavit in front of him (Arifin) was enough evidence .

The arguments continued until lead prosecutor Abdul Gani Patail later stood up to rebut the submission.

Gani also read paragraphs of Mahathir's affidavit, by which time some of those present in the courtroom, including journalists and Anwar's family members were seen to be dozing off, and had to be told off by the police in the courtroom.

Among those seen in the public gallery were Anwar's parents, KeADILan youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, and committee member Saifuddn Nasution, as well as Anwar's ex-private secretary and state assemblyman for Hulu Klang Azmin Ali.

Nurul Izzah, Anwar's eldest daughter, walked into the courtroom at noon. Dressed in a floral baju kurung, Izzah had just returned from Geneva yesterday evening, where she told the UN Human Rights Commission meeting that her father is a political prisoner and has no other recourse for justice.

Meanwhile, Arifin adjourned the submissions on the relevance of Mahathir's testimony to Friday as Karpal has an appointment in Muar tomorrow and that he (Arifin) could also "take the weekend to ponder over the points of both the defence and prosecution before making the decision on the prime minister".

The trial will, however, continue tomorrow with the defence calling in two witnesses. Norazman Abdullah @ Baginda, an aide of former MP and businessman S'ng Chee Hua, and Commissioner of Oaths Ngui Kee Heong, who had witnessed the affirmation of ex-driver Azizan Abu Bakar's statutory declaration, will both take to the witness stand tomorrow.

Anwar is charged with forcing sex on his wife's former driver Azizan with the aid of adopted brother Sukma Dermawan Sasmitaat Madja.

Anwar is serving a six-year jail term for corruption and stands trial on a separate charge of sodomy and sexual misconduct. He has repeatedly denied all charges and says they were fabricated to end his political career.