An international NGO has slammed the Malaysian courts for letting senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah be the prosecutor, despite obvious political overtones in the government's Sodomy II appeal against Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) questioned why Shafee's appointment was made in spite of perceptions that he may be biased in the appeal to overturn the acquittal of Anwar on his second sodomy charge.

ramli yusuff asset declare case 120310 muhammad shafee abdullah "This case is a significant test of the integrity of the judicial system in Malaysia, which for so long has been the subject of concern to human rights proponents, bodies and organisations," said Justice Elizabeth Evatt, a commissioner with the ICJ who observed the proceedings over the last two days.

"Considering the political overtones in this case, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah ( right ) should be especially sensitive to any appearance that might lead to a perception of bias and partiality that might arise from his earlier knowledge of facts of the case."

Yesterday, Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh had argued that Shafee may also be a material witness to the case.

Karpal had submitted that Shafee was present when alleged sodomy victim Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan met then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak at his official residence .

The court also did not indicate new dates on when the hearing of the appeal would take place, ICJ noted.

"The ICJ will continue to monitor this case," Evatt said in the press statement.

The NGO had previously condemned the case as it had said consensual sexual relations between two adults was not a crime and that the trial contravened the rights to privacy under international standards.

Anwar was acquitted in January last year of sodomising Mohd Saiful, his former aide, at condominium in Desa Damansara on June 26, 2008.