The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today ordered Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Bhd, the publisher of Umno-owned newspaper Utusan Malaysia, to pay RM200,000 plus interest to former parliamentary opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Judge Hue Siew Kheng also rejected the move by Utusan's lawyer, Firoz Hussein Ahmad, who tried to bring up Anwar’s sodomy conviction in his argument.

Anwar's lawyer N Surendran said the ruling showed was proof that the Umno-owned newspaper was not practising responsible journalism.

"This vindication proves that Datuk Seri Anwar has been slandered by Utusan Malaysia , which is known by all to be owned by Umno.

"They still repeat such cases and we hope this will be a clear lesson for them. This is not the way of running a responsible newspaper," Surendran ( photo ) told reporters outside the court.

Anwar won his suit against Utusan and its chief editor Abdul Aziz Ishak in 2013, following the daily's publication, citing his interview with the BBC in 2012, that he supported lesbians, gays, transexuals and bisexuals.

Justice VT Singham, who delivered the decision before his retirement, took the daily to task for failing to practise responsible journalism.

Some 50 activists and PKR members led by the Otai Reformis group also gathered in front of the court today to 'welcome' Anwar.

They carried banners and shouted 'Reformasi!' when a convoy of Prisons Department vehicles escorting Anwar arrived at the court complex about 2pm.

Surendran also took the Prison Department to task on the matter of proper medical treatment for Anway, which his family members have raised on several occasions.

"We have raised the issue time and time again and he (Anwar) still has not been provided with treatment for a serious problem on his right shoulder.

"His family members, friends andf supporters are very disappointed that this matter is being dragged on. He has not been getting the medical treatment that he needs," Surendran added.