Anwar’s Trial to Begin in Malaysia

Anwar’s trial was scheduled to start in July but was delayed due to appeals by his lawyers. If convicted Anwar faces up to 20 years in prison and this could well mean an end of his political career.

International rights group Amnesty International has called the charge against Anwar ‘politically motivated’ and urged the authorities to drop it.

The former deputy premier was sacked in 1998 and jailed on corruption and separate sodomy charges. He was freed in 2004.

He rallied the opposition to achieve major gains in parliamentary elections in 2008, by winning one third of the seats.