(AFP) Supporters of jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim will meet the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to press for him to be allowed the spinal surgery of his choice, an official said today.

Irene Fernandez, chairperson of the People's Memorandum Policy Committee, said parliamentary opposition leader Fadzil Noor would lead a delegation which would submit a memorandum to Suhakam on Thursday.

"The memorandum relates to the people's concern to the continuous abuse, ill-treatment and human rights infringement of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim," she said in a statement.

Anwar, serving 15 years for abuse of power and sodomy, was moved back to prison on May 10 after spending more than five months in hospital with a slipped disc.

The ex-deputy premier has rejected a government offer of spinal surgery at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

He insists he has a right to a "less risky" endoscopic operation in a specialist clinic in Munich.

Best care

The government has ruled this out but said a foreign endoscopic specialist can operate in Malaysia if desired.

Doctors have warned that Anwar risks aggravating his back pain and might lose the use of his lower limbs if he refuses an operation.

The government says it has offered Anwar the best possible medical treatment. Deputy Health Minister Suleiman Mohamed said on Friday that Anwar had been given the best medical care and attention of "golden standard".

Anwar says he was framed to avert a political challenge to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir denies interfering in the courts and says he sacked his former heir apparent in September 1998 for immorality.