Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's appeal against his six-year jail sentence for corruption will be heard before the Federal Court on Feb 4 after being postponed for three times since Nov 2000.

In a letter faxed yesterday to Anwar's counsel Sankara Nair, the Federal Court's deputy registrar, Azimah Omar said that four days would be set aside for the trial.

"Any applications to further postpone the trial will not be entertained," Azimah said.

Sankara said today that Anwar's team of lawyers would apply for a full bench to hear the appeal.

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 when one of the judges on the panel was hospitalised.

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

Anwar has gone on a stringent fast beginning last Saturday to protest the further postponement of his case, scheduled to be heard last Monday.

Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail requested the postponement as he had 'more pressing matters to attend to'.

Sankara said today that Anwar has called off his fast and was 'glad to hear of the news'.

"I welcome the decision of the Federal Court to fix my appeal date at Feb 4," Anwar said in a statement through Sankara.

Low protein count

Sankara said Anwar's family expressed relief at his decision to discontinue the fast.

"They were concerned it would threaten his health because of his substantially low protein count as reported by his doctors," he said.

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 the 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.