More than 100 people gathered at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital to show support for jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim who celebrated his 57th birthday yesterday.

The crowd started gathering at the compound as early as 5pm before Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Dr Badrul Amin Bahron led them in reciting the Surah Yasin (Quranic verses) about an hour later.

As a cake - marked with the numeral six to signify Anwar's sixth birthday in jail - was sent up to his ward, shouts of reformasi were heard.

It took prison officials 30 minutes to inform Badrul and Tian Chua - also a PKR vice-president - whether or not the cake could be presented to Anwar.

At the time Anwar's wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and children were with him.

Anwar - who is currently serving a nine-year jail sentence for a sodomy offence which he is appealing against - has been in HKL since July 12 when his back condition worsened.

He remains in hospital pending his decision on whether or not to undergo a local surgery to correct a slipped disc.

Permission granted

While the supporters were chanting reformasi, Wan Azizah who is also PKR president, wheeled Anwar to a window overlooking the compound.

The crowd responded with excitement and waved a giant birthday card which had his picture and words of support. They also released white and blue balloons into the air.

Barely visible behind window grilles, Anwar waved a few times before being moved away.

Badrul later explained to the gathering that the prison officials had to contact their superiors at the Sungai Buloh prison for permission for the cake to be delivered.

It is learnt that the officials showed the cake to Anwar, who was given a slice of it. The rest of the cake was later removed from the room and handed to Wan Azizah.

Most of the supporters stayed back for a picnic at the hospital compound, taking the opportunity to chat with one another and to sign the birthday card.

At 6.30pm, Dang Wangi OCPD Hadi Ho Abdullah arrived and told them that they should respect the patients' need for quiet and told them to reduce their noise.

He also advised them to disperse as soon as possible which they did at 7pm.