Anwar Ibrahim's defence team and the prosecution have confirmed that he will take the stand on Aug 22, to begin his defence in his sodomy trial.

He will do so whether or not the defence lawyers manage to interview another six witnesses, including former IGP Musa Hassan who is currently overseas, but expected to return this week.

One of Anwar's lawyers, Sankara Nair, told the court today that the defence has already interviewed 19 potential witnesses and that six witnesses have yet to be made available.

azlanSolicitor-General II Mohd Yusof Zainal said whatever happens, the parties have agreed that Anwar will take the stand on Monday.

"We will try and make available the witnesses by this week," he added.

Today the defence team interviewed Sharehah Md Salim, the mother of complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's former fiancee.

Anwar is charged with sodomising Saiful, his then aide, at the Desa Damansara condominium between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 28, 2008.

"As it is the case for the defence, Anwar will have to be the first to take the stand," Sankara told reporters outside the courtroom.

Apart from Sharehah and Musa, the others who have yet to be interviewed are Pusrawi nurse Yazihan Jusoh, Indonesian maids Suliati and Fitria Dipan, and Anwar's former bodyguard Mohd Rasid Mohd Rosdi.

The two maids have returned to Indonesia, and lawyer Ram Karpal said the prosecution has not managed to contact them as yet.

"We will have to wait and see (if they show up)," Ram said.

Ram, when met after interviewing Sharehah, said three other remaining witnesses will be called in the next few days.

Najib, Rosmah and Rodwan interviewed

Last week, the defence had already met or interviewed 14 witnesses.

The most significant ones were premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, who were met on Friday under a shroud of secrecy.

The defence did not get any indication that Najib and Rosmah were coming although under normal circumstances, they would be informed the day before who would be turning up.

However Najib, Rosmah as well as former Malacca police chief Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof, who was Najib's aide de camp, declined to be interviewed and said they did not want to be Anwar's defence witnesses.

NONENajib, Rosmah and Rodwan (right) met with the defence separately and also with Anwar present.

All three came without their lawyers.

The defence had interviewed five witnesses several weeks earlier and they included former national athlete Mumtaz Jaafar, said to be a close friend of Rosmah, Khairil Annas Jusoh, the former special officer to Najib when he was the deputy premier, and Pusrawi Hospital's Dr Mohamad Osman Abdul Hamid, who was the first to examine Saiful.

Hospital Kuala Lumpur's Dr Anantha Raj Daniel and Saiful's sister Saidati were also interviewed.

There was a short protest outside the court before today's proceedings, by the non-governmental organisation Gerakan Reformasi Rakyat Malaysia, which is calling for a speedy trial.

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