Anwar Ibrahim's American lawyer now says that Malaysia is better than Afghanistan, after the Home Ministry approved a meeting with the jailed former opposition leader.

"Well yesterday it was easier to get access to my clients in Afghanistan.

"But today Malaysia wins, it was easier to get access to my client than in Afghanistan," Kimberley Motley told reporters after meeting Anwar at the Sungai Buloh prison today.

She thanked Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the prison authority for approving and facilitating the meet.

Motley, who was appointed as Anwar's lawyer last week, was denied access to him yesterday.

In response to this, the lawyer said that Afghanistan treated political prisoners better than Malaysia.

In their meeting today, Motley said that Anwar wished his supporters and non-supporters well.

He also gave her legal instructions which she declined to disclose citing attorney-client privilege.

Motley will be returning to the US today, but will be back in time for the Oct 12 hearing of Anwar's review of his conviction by the Federal Court.

"So we invite anyone who has an interest in truth and justice to show up at the court hearing on Oct 12," she said.

Anwar is serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

He has maintained his innocence, saying that the charge was politically motivated.