Former Umno deputy president Anwar Ibrahim has been depicted as an enemy of the party in a political tabloid distributed free of charge at the annual general meeting, which began at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

Era Baru featured a photograph of Anwar on the front page and a back-page story on former premier and party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying he remains convinced that his former deputy was involved in homosexual acts.

The publication was a hit among those attending the Youth, Wanita and Puteri Umno meetings, with delegates appearing to be more engrossed in its contents than the leaders' speeches.

A Wanita member supported the Umno supreme council's decision to prevent Anwar from returning to the party.

"I agree that we should not allow him back into the fold especially as we've thrown him out once. Let's keep him out for good as he has strayed from the path," said Sabariah Yusof after exiting the voting hall.

This morning, 793 appointed Wanita delegates voted for their leaders, who will helm the wing for the next three years. The results are expected to be announced later today.

Sabariah of Penang said she used to be a staunch supporter of Anwar when he was the pride of the party.

'Political gimmick'

Her view was shared by Puteri Umno member Norley Ibrahim, who said Anwar is "in cahoots with opposition parties".

"Umno has not been cruel to him... his back-pain gimmick was pathetically politicised and it doesn't seem all that serious since the operation only took a matter of minutes," she added.

Anwar is currently recuperating after surgery in Munich, Germany, to correct a slipped disc. He has dismissed harbouring any intention of rejoining Umno.

On Sept 2, the Federal Court overturned his sodomy conviction, but said the judges were inclined to believe that he had been involved in homosexual acts.

Anwar, who was sacked in 1998, had already served six years in prison for a corruption offence.

His application for a review of the conviction was dismissed, thereby effectively barring him from taking active part in politics until April 2008.