Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim today called for an Asia-Pacific human rights court to prevent politically motivated abuse of the law.

Anwar, speaking at a legal conference in Australia, said his own case showed how important it was to ensure the rule of law was protected.

Anwar was heir apparent to then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad before being jailed for six years for alleged corruption involving abuse of power. He was freed last September after a separate sodomy conviction was overturned.

He and human rights groups maintained the charges were trumped up to prevent him from challenging Mahathir, an allegation denied by the ex-premier.

"Six years behind bars made me realise what it is like to be on the receiving end of unjust laws administered by unscrupulous politicians," Anwar said. "One must ensure that this form of injustice is not repeated on anyone."

Anwar also used the conference in Queensland state to attack the Australian government's policy of mandatory detention for asylum-seekers.

"For a democratic country such as Australia, I think the treatment of asylum-seekers here has been deplorable," he said.

Earlier in his visit, Anwar accused Canberra of ignoring human rights abuses in places like Burma and Malaysia yet using them to justify its involvement in the US-led war on Iraq.