The hearing of ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's bail application, which was adjourned last month so that he could perform his duties at the akad nikah ceremony of his eldest daughter Nurul Izzah, will resume early next month.

His lawyer Sankara Nair said the Court of Appeal registry had informed him this morning that Justices Pajan Singh Gill, Richard Malanjum and Hashim Mohd Yusof will continue hearing the counsel arguments on July 14.

The court also set the same date to hear a similar application by Anwar's co-accused, Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja.

On Aug 8, 2000, High Court judge Arifin Jaka found Anwar guilty of sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar - the former driver of Anwar's wife and Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail - and sentenced him to nine years' jail.

He also found Sukma guilty of sodomising Azizan and abetting Anwar. He jailed the Indonesian-born businessman to six years' year and four strokes of the rotan, but had allowed him bail and stay of execution pending appeal.

'Ultimate chance'

The hearing will also make way for a possible "reunion" for Anwar and the Keadilan leaders who were recently released from 26 months of detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

With the release of Lokman Adam and Dr Badrulamin Bahron this morning, all six are now out of ISA detention.

Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua, one of the ISA 6, told malaysiakini that he looks forward to meeting Anwar, whose sacking and arrest in September 1998 had triggered the reformasi movement..

"It has been more than two years since I met him (Anwar). It would be great to finally see him again. I am sure the others (ex-detainees) would take the same opportunity to do so," Tian said.

He also said he would intensify the campaign for Anwar to be allowed bail pending disposal of his appeal against the sodomy conviction and sentence.

"Of course he deserves the bail. Whether he gets it or not is another story. But I think this is the ultimate chance for the judiciary to show that they are really an independent branch," he added.

Similar sentiments had been expressed by Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor on Tuesday after he won a stay of execution on Tuesday, pending appeal against his conviction and sentence for breaching the Official Secrets Act.

This afternoon, Ezam told malaysiakini that he, too, was eager to meet Anwar. Ezam had been his political secretary until Anwar was sacked from his ministerial posts.

"I am not only looking forward to finally seeing him, but to bring him back home with us...God willing," Ezam said.

Anwar and Sukma had filed formal applications for stay of execution and bail on April 22 after the Court of Appeal dismissed their oral applications on April 18.

These were tendered during a hearing of their appeals against their convictions and sentence for the sodomy offence. The court quashed their appeals, revoked Sukma's bail of RM50,000 and ordered him to start serving his prison sentence with immediate effect.