Jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim has been on a 'stringent fast' since yesterday to protest the continued postponement of his Federal Court appeal against charges of corruption and has 'sworn to continue' until his case is heard.

In a statement today, Anwar said he was 'outraged and disappointed' that his appeal was postponed for the third time yesterday since November last year.

"I am deeply disappointed with the decision by the Federal Court to again postpone the case at the eleventh hour.

"I am also outraged to know that Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail had the audacity to use a flimsy ground to justify the request for the postponement," he said in the statement released by his lawyer, Sankara Nair.

Sankara later told reporters he had received a fax from the AG's Chambers this morning stating that Gani was dealing 'with other more pressing matters'.

"In the fax, Gani explained that he was newly-appointed and had very little time to prepare for the case as it was voluminous, complex and that they were given too short a notice to prepare for it ," he said.

Gani who assumed the duties of AG early this month, was responsible for prosecuting Anwar in 1998 on charges of sodomy and corruption.

He was was also alleged - as chief public prosecutor in the trials of Anwar - to have coerced witness S Nallakaruppan to fabricate evidence against the ex-deputy premier in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Nallakaruppan, who was Anwar's tennis partner, was charged with illegal possession of firearms which upon conviction carries a mandatory death sentence.

Final appeal avenue

Gani had been asked by the Federal Court, when dismissing a contempt of court charge against Zainur Zakaria (who was then Anwar's lawyer), that he explain the allegation of "fabrication of evidence" for Anwar's trial.

"It is an affront to my intelligence to suggest that Gani is unprepared due to his recent elevation as AG considering he was involved in the entire matter," said Anwar in his statement.

"As such he is fully conversant and apprised of all the facts of my case. Yesterday's action (the postponement) is yet another clear indication that the new AG is compliant to all instructions of the prime minister who is obviously apprehensive of the compelling legal arguments that would be presented in court by my lawyers."

The appeal, if it had proceeded as scheduled next Monday, would take place only days before the Indera Kayangan by-election in Perlis where Keadilan candidate Khoo Yang Chong is in a straight fight with Barisan Nasional's Oui Ah Lan.

The original appeal date on Nov 27, 2000 was put off indefinitely due to Anwar's spinal problem. The Federal Court then fixed Nov 12, 2001 for the hearing but it was postponed again as one of the judges in the panel was hospitalised.

The Federal Court is the final venue of appeal for Anwar against his conviction.

Sankara also said he met Anwar this morning after Sungai Buloh prison officials alerted him of the ex-deputy premier's refusal to eat.

"I met him in prison and tried in vain to persuade him but he appeared most upset and refused to budge. He swore to go on the stringent fast, perhaps one meal a day, until he gets a hearing date.

"My fear is for his health if he carries out this fast as doctors who examined him yesterday expressed concern over a notable drop in his protein count,"said Sankara.

Unanimous decision

Anwar who is currently serving a 15-year jail term was found guilty by the High Court on April 14, 1999 of abusing his power in requesting police to retract statements from two persons, Azizan Abu Bakar and Ummi Hafilda Ali, who had accused him of sexual misconduct.

Justice S Augustine Paul sentenced Anwar to six years jail for committing the offences at his (Anwar's) former residence between Aug 12 and 27, 1997.

Anwar's appeal to reverse this verdict was unanimously dismissed by a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal on April 29 last year.

In addition to this six-year jail term, Anwar was also found guilty of committing sodomy and was sentenced to another nine years jail by the High Court on Aug 8 last year.