DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang today asked if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is "heartless" enough to jail opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for 20 years to effectively end his political career, through the sodomy charge laid against him.

Lim posed the question in reference to the attorney general counter-appealing Anwar's appeal to the five-year jail term meted out to him by the Court of Appeal in March, after finding him guilty of sodomy against a former aide.

Lim said that it is "shocking, unbelievable and outrageous" that the AG has decided to counter appeal seeking a longer jail term for Anwar, while citing public interest among the reasons.

"There are forces among those in power who want to get rid of the Opposition, by hook or by crook, but I want to ask if Najib is so cruel, callous and heartless as to want Anwar ( right ) to be jailed for 20 years and not released until he is an octogenarian?" Lim asked in a statement today.

"Is this in conformity with Najib’s preaching of ‘wasatiyyah’ or moderation with its emphasis on the principles of justice, balance and excellence?" He further asked.

The Federal Court will hear Anwar's appeal beginning Tuesday. Should he fail in this final appeal, he would be jailed for the second time in his career and would lose his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat.

The High Court had initially acquitted him but the Court of Appeal sentenced him to five years in prison earlier this year.

Anwar also faces a sedition charge on top of the current sodomy charges.