Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim urged his supporters to reserve judgment on the police force and prison authorities, despite the bad treatment many people believe was meted on him while in prison.

Speaking to a crowd of about 1,500 people at his house in Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumour last night, Anwar extended a conciliatory tone towards his incarcerators, 90 percent of whom he says had been sympathetic and respectful to him.

He also hoped to visit the Sungai Buloh prison in Selangor - where he was held since 1998 - to express his gratitude for the courteous manner in which most police and prison personnel had treated him.

"Among the things I want to do is go to Sungai Buloh (prison) to give a talk there. Let them hear me, because I want them to hear of my appreciation for what they've done for me," he said.

"Generally, perhaps ninety percent or more were kind, respectful, and considerate. They may be under orders, but some of them were very respectful," added Anwar.

"I want to repeat my assertion that I am against any hostile approach. I don't agree in cursing anybody, especially those people whose guilt has not been determined."

'No reason to hate me'

He also revealed that the only time he was accorded "special treatment" was while he was detained under the Internal Security Act in the early days following his sacking from the government in 1998 - he had a monitoring camera trained on him around the clock.

Anwar said nevertheless most middle and lower-ranking officers displayed no hostility to him.

He claimed that his policies and efforts while in the government were always for the benefit of government officials and that could be a reason as to why they bore no malice against him.

"When (other cabinet ministers) pushed for mega projects, I was calling for low-cost houses. When they asked for higher allowances for ministers, I asked for higher allowances for the lower ranks. When they asked for wasteful contracts to be given to their subsidiaries, I called for such contracts to be distributed to many companies.

"They disagreed with the tightening of the Corruption Act, while I asked that it be carried out. They wanted to fire the mufti, but I defended him. So what reason is there for the lower ranks not to support me?"

"The only people against me are those higher up. The lower ranking officers, I know they have no reason to hate me," Anwar added.

Other than his wish to speak at the Sungai Buloh prison, Anwar did not disclose any further details of his plans for the next few weeks apart from a speaking engagement on Nov 5 at his former parliamentary constituency of Permatang Pauh and another talk four days later in Perak.

Anwar had returned to Malaysia yesterday morning after being away in Germany and Saudi Arabia for almost two months. He had left for Germany for a back surgery immediately after he was acquitted by the Federal Court of sodomy charges on Sept 2.

In a press conference held earlier yesterday upon his return from Saudi Arabia where he had performed the minor pilgrimage, Anwar said he would be adopting a more "courteous and civil political approach" towards the government as opposed to the strong and hostile approach.