Bid to try Anwar in higher court

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ebrahim on Tuesday cried foul over a government attempt to move his sodomy trial from a lower court to the High Court, saying he fears he will end up facing a biased judge.

The opposition leader has been charged with sodomising a 23-year-old former male aide, and faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

Before a date could be set for Anwar's trial to begin in a district court, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail - the top judicial official in the country - ordered it to be transferred to the High Court.

"I am concerned over the issue of fair trial," Anwar told reporters.