Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim today appeared to rule out a return to the ruling party Umno but remained cagey about his political plans after being freed from six years in jail.

In an interview with AFP at his home on his first full day of freedom , Anwar said he had "never considered" rejoining Umno, of which he was deputy president before his downfall.

"The issue does not crop up at all. I have not discussed or deliberated on it. My commitment is for reform."

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said he is prepared to meet the former prisoner, and Anwar left open the possibility of talks.

"I don't want to sound arrogant in not wanting to discuss with any parties. That is why I have refused to dismiss any possibility of discussion," he said.

Told that some Umno members wanted him to return to the party, he said: "I have to listen to them. Politics is still very much in me." He described Abdullah's remarks on his release as "conciliatory and polite".

Anwar was a popular deputy prime minister until he was fired by then-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 and later jailed for a total of 15 years on charges of corruption and sodomy.

He always maintained that the charges were trumped up to prevent him challenging Mahathir for the premiership and the Federal Court, the country's highest, on Thursday overturned his sodomy conviction.

He has already served his sentence for corruption, but the same court will review that conviction on Monday.

No malice

Asked how he felt about the man who precipitated his fall from grace, Anwar said: "I have no malice against Mahathir. I do not wish to go on discussing about the past.

"I have supported Mahathir in certain policies and I have also seen the entire institution of democracy and civil society destroyed."

Told that Anwar said he felt no malice towards him, Mahathir said "he must be a generous person indeed."

But the former leader, who retired last October, said he remained convinced that he had made the right decision to sack Anwar, suggesting that he still believed in his guilt.

Anwar said he thought Mahathir's successor Abdullah had made some good policy moves but that much more needed to be done to reform a system of government which he says is corrupt.

"Abdullah has taken some measures to arrest the erosion of confidence in the judiciary but I think we need to impress on him to press on with the reforms."

Asked whether he believed he still had popular support, Anwar said: "It's not for me to say, but I'm happy after all these years of abuse and attacks that people continue to shower me with the same affection."

Treatment in Germany

Asked later by a group of reporters whether he planned to stand for office in the next election, which is due by March 2009, he laughed and said: "I have to get my back repaired first."

Anwar is expected to leave soon to undergo surgery in Germany for a spinal injury he says was caused by a police beating after his arrest in 1998.

He said that on his return, expected after about three weeks, he would discuss his future with "my friends from the opposition".

Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail heads the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat, which was formed to press his cause after his arrest.

Under Malaysian law, Anwar is banned as a convict from political activity for five years, but could run for office in the next elections. Or, if the Federal Court overturns his corruption conviction at the hearing next Monday, he could make an immediate comeback to politics.