PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has ticked off Australia over its "muted" response to oppression, corruption and election fraud by the Najib (Abdul Razak's)-administration.

In an interview with The Australian, Anwar said Australia was supposed to be among the "beacons of democracy".

Anwar said democratic countries "can be polite", but should not be "appeasing ruthless, corrupt, ­authoritarian leaders" just for the sake of trade deals.

"It's very painful for democrats, those who are struggling for freedom," he said.

Anwar spoke to numerous news organisations yesterday, both domestic and international, upon his release from prison after receiving a full pardon.

He told the daily that he was a victim of a miscarriage of justice and that he was a victim of a "clear conspiracy".

"I praise Allah because the King ­accepted that my pardon was complete, unconditional, and due to a miscarriage of justice."

He also conceded that he had at times thought of "giving up this struggle" over the past 20 years.

"Now there is a new dawn for Malaysia, for the entire spectrum of Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, who stood by the principle of democracy and freedom," he said.