Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was named among the 20 nominees for the international magazine Time Asia's Heroes 2004 award.

Anwar is the only Malaysian nominated among the finalists, which included Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Burmese opposition leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and China's first astronaut Yang Li Wei.

The magazine's online version is also running a poll for readers to vote for their choice and Anwar is currently ranked second after Suu Kyi, who is leader of the Burmese opposition party National League for Democracy and currently put under house arrest by the country's military junta.

As of 4.21pm, 20,534 people have cast their votes. Out of this, 36.8 percent voted for Suu Kyi, 30.2 percent for Anwar and 29 percent for the Dalai Lama. Ranked fourth and fifth are Nepal human rights activist Anuradha Koirala and former Philippines president Corazon Aquino with 0.9 and 0.6 percent respectively.

Previously, Anwar was also nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize award. A few months following his sacking in 1998, Newsweek magazine named him 'Asian of the Year' .

The former deputy premier, who is currently recuperating from a back surgery in Germany, was released on Sept 2, after Malaysia's highest court quashed his nine-year jail sentence for a sodomy offence.

However, his quest to be vindicated from a corruption-related charge was rejected by the same court a week later.

Anwar, who served six years in prison, claims that the charges against him were trumped-up by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has denied this.

Recognition for struggle

Commenting on the nomination today, Anwar's eldest daughter Nurul Izzah said she was elated as it makes "my father's struggle for greater democracy in Malaysia more meaningful."

She said the nomination is also an achievement for Malaysians who supported the cause for reformation.

"The mere fact that he is placed second among those who immensely inspired the world, Suu Kyi and Dalai Lama, is already a great honour.

"It's also a great beginning for my dad after his release from jail. He has repeatedly said the reformasi struggle is not for himself but for those who suffered from the repressive situation in the country," she added.

Meanwhile, Anwar told malaysiakini yesterday that he would only know on Monday whether he would be fit enough to perform the umrah (pilgrimage) in Mecca next month.

"I have been undergoing pure physiotherapy for the past two days at a clinic at the outskirts of Munich and will be returning to Alpha Clinic in two days. On Monday Dr (Thomas) Hoogland will assess my health and decide," he said.