The issue of whether prisoners can be allowed physical contact with family members will be decided by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 7.

Justice Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamad fixed the date after hearing submissions from lawyers representing jailed opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim and the government lawyers representing the prison authority today.

Lawyer N Surendran for Anwar told the court that the politician is only allowed to meet his family members once in three weeks and the matter of being allowed physical contact was at the discretion of the Prisons Department.