The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has barred a foreign observer from Lawasia and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, as well as Anwar Ibrahim's supporters, from the court for the hearing of the former opposition leader's application.

An interpreter at the court of Justice Nor Bee Ariffin posted a notice outside courtroom this morning, which states that only lawyers and parties in the application are allowed into the court.

Lawasia and IPU representative Mark Trowell wrote in last week to seek permission to be present during the matter.

However, despite writing in, he was disallowed.

Trowell told Malaysiakini that while he respected the position of the judge to conduct the matter in chambers, it was open to her to exercise her discretion to admit an international observer, either in her chambers or if conducting the application in open court.

"The international community is still interested and concerned about legal proceedings concerning Anwar Ibrahim," he said

Anwar is representing himself in his judicial review application on the Pardons Board’s decision rejecting his plea for pardon on the sodomy conviction.

Justice Nor Bee declared the application for leave from Anwar as a hearing in chambers, but she held it in the courtroom.

Present outside the court, among others, were former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Tumpat MP Kamaruddin Jaafar and Penang exco member Dr Afif Bahardin.

It is normal for leave applications to be held in chambers. However, international observers were usually allowed in.

Trowell ( photo ), who is a Queen's Counsel from Australia, said he had previously written to Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria in the past to be an observer, most notably at the sodomy II trial.

He arrived here yesterday.

Trowell's reports to the IPU have been the basis for the international organisation to express concern over the former opposition leader.

Last July, the IPU consisting of MPs from across the globe has called for Anwar to be given the necessary medical treatment .

Government raised an objection

At about 10.45am, lawyers Latheefa Koya and N Surendran, who is also Padang Serai MP, informed reporters that the case has been postponed to next Monday at 2.30pm.

“This after Anwar had not obtained a copy of the senior federal counsel's submission on the matter.

"They have to be reminded that they are supposed to send it to the prison as Anwar is appearing on his own behalf in this case,” said Latheefa.

The Federal Territory Pardons Board is represented by senior federal counsel Suzana Atan.

It was reported that on June 24, last year, Anwar along with his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughters Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha, filed the application by naming the Pardons Board, the attorney-general and the Malaysian government as respondents.

The application seek to quash the Pardons Board’s decision in dismissing his petition for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction last March.

Judge Nor Bee Ariffin fixed the date in chambers when the case was mentioned today.

Subang MP R Sivarasa told Malaysiakini that the government had raised an objection during the leave application, arguing that a decision by the board is non-justiciable owing to two Federal Court decisions.

However, he said Anwar will argue that times have changed.

“We may have to bring this on referral to the Federal Court. We will see,” Sivarasa added.