Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail ( photo ) has requested for the judgment on jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal , scheduled to be delivered on Aug 28, to be postponed.

According to Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair, the AG made the request for a short adjournment via a letter to Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Shaikh Abdul Halim.

Abdul Gani had made the request as he would be in Hong Kong between Aug 23 and Aug 29 to record statements from witnesses involved in the criminal breach of trust trial involving former Perwaja Steel managing director Eric Chia.

"The AG stated in the letter - a copy of which was sent to me - that he hoped the Federal Court could convene between Sept 1-4 as he wanted to personally be in court when the judgment is delivered," said Sankara when contacted.

The lawyer had conveyed the matter to Anwar yesterday and the latter had strongly objected to any further postponement.

"He (Anwar) instructed me to reply stating that the judgment should be delivered as scheduled as he has waited long enough after the court had deferred it at the last minute the last time," he said.

However, sympathetic to the AG's predicament, Sankara said Anwar had later directed him to send a second letter stating that the defence welcomes any date earlier than Aug 28.

"We are not objecting to his presence but to the postponement. So if the court can convene earlier than Aug 28, it would be more than welcome," he said.

Health condition

Sankara hoped that the court would consider Anwar's plight as the judgment has a bearing on his deteriorating health condition.

If AG's request is permitted it would be the second postponement by the Federal Court as the matter was earlier set for July 22 but was deferred indefinitely at the eleventh hour without any reason.

Anwar, who is undergoing treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur after his slipped disc condition worsened , is appealing against his nine-year jail term for a sodomy offence involving the former driver of his wife in 1993.

The jailed politician claimed that the judgment on the appeal is crucial as it would help him choose his method of treatment .

No reason

Meanwhile, Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh said there was no reason for the court to adjourn the judgment as Abdul Gani's presence was dispensable.

"Any officer from the AG's Chambers can represent the AG when the court gives its judgment. It's not necessary for him to be there personally," he said when contacted.

In the event that the issue on reduction of jail term arises, Karpal said the court can always fix another date for submissions.

"What is important is that the judgment is delivered. Other matters fall second," he added.