Jailed ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim is under doctor's orders not to attend tomorrow's hearing of a review of his corruption conviction in the Federal Court, as it may aggravate his health condition .

A letter issued today by Dr S Jeyaindran, a medical consultant Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) informed the Prisons Department that Anwar experiences pain whenever he moves or sits for long periods.

Anwar - who is currently serving a nine-year jail sentence for a sodomy offence - has been in HKL since July 12 when his back condition worsened. He remains warded pending his decision on whether or not to undergo a local surgery to correct a slipped disc.

The letter was distributed by Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair during a press conference at his office in Kuala Lumpur today.

Sankara told reporters that Anwar has consented to the hearing proceeding without his presence, saying that the matter should not be further prolonged. It was postponed by the court after the review was mentioned in August last year.

"I met him (Anwar) at the hospital this afternoon and he said that he does not want any more postponements. He does not want his absence to be the cause of the matter being deferred again," he said.

"We have also relayed this to the Federal Court to ensure that there will be no unexpected hiccups tomorrow."

Gatherings planned

Anwar filed the application in August 2002, seeking leave from the country's highest court to review its own decision, which upheld the April 14, 1999 Kuala Lumpur High Court verdict finding him guilty of corruption.

While there is no other avenue for appeal against a decision by the Federal Court, aggrieved parties can apply to the same court for a review of its own decision under a new set of judges.

On Anwar's wish to have the review heard by a five-member panel , Sankara said: "He is disappointed with the Chief Justice for failing to fulfill his promise for a five-man bench, but does not want the issue to be used as an excuse to prolonge the review."

"Anwar has instructed us to try to get a five-man bench tomorrow but if the request is rejected then the review should start immediately."

Last Friday, the court rejected Anwar's request for a five-panel member citing the shortage of judges as a reason.

In a letter signed by registrar S Kalyanakumar, it said that only three of the nine Federal Court judges are able to hear the review, as six others have already heard Anwar's other corruption and sodomy appeals.

In a related development Free Anwar Movement spokesperson Tian Chua said there will be a gathering outside the court tomorrow to show support for the jailed politician.

"Although we know that the case will have no effect on Anwar's freedom, it is still important as the corruption case was the beginning of injustice. We hope that our presence will remind the judiciary of its responsibility to correct these wrongs."

Anwar's 57th birthday

Tian added that there will be another gathering at KLH, as it is also Anwar's 57th birthday.

"Anwar turns 57 tomorrow but what is more significant is that this year would be his sixth year of celebrating his birthday in jail," he added.

"Repeated attempts for bail had been unjustly denied and we intend to highlight the issue tomorrow. He has been deprived of being with his family like any citizen."