Wahab Patail, the High Court judge, postponed the habeaus corpus petition to October 28. It was filed by Azizah on October 8. While Anwar's original arrest order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) was lifted on October 14, he remains in police custody on the strength of 10 charges of corruption and sexual misconduct filed after he was detained.

Foreign observers have expressed interest in attending the trial amid allegations that Anwar was beaten while in police custody. Sivarasa Rasiah, a human rights lawyer, said that the presence of local and foreign observers was important to make the trail process more transparent.

``Theycan play a role of a safeguard for a fair trail,'' he said. ``The government's role in relation to local and foreign observers is to facilitate their access to the courts. Accredition is a matter strictly for that court to decide,'' he added.

Sivarasa also said that Mahathir's comments on the issue of observers was a concern to all Malaysians because it was effectively a directive to the judiciary. ``The silence of the judiciary on this question does not reflect well,'' he added. Foreign criticism of Anwar's arrest has strained Malaysia's ties with some countries, notably Indonesia and the Philippines, whose respective Presidents B J Habibie and Joseph Estrada are personal friends of Anwar.

Some Philippine congressmen have expressed interest in attending Anwar's trial, a move seen by Malaysia as an act of interference. Anwar's wife and activists expressed concern over remarks by Mahathir that the Malaysian government will not entertain any application by foreigners to be accredited as observers at thetrial.

``I regret to say that the statement gives the impression that attendance in court is at the discretion of the executive branch of government,'' Azizah said. ``Is this an indirect way of influencing the courts by the executive? I am advised by my husband's lawyers that it is not for the government to decide whether anyone ought to be given observer status at his trial. There have been instances where the court has accorded observer status to foreign organisations.'' Azizah said lawyers told her that ``any foreign organisation representatives who wish to attend court as observers can make the necessary application to the High Court judge concerned''.

Tian Chua, chairman of the Opposition Coalition for People's Democracy, said the government should not be be unduly worried if foreigners or locals attend the trial as observers. ``I think it is important to have observers so that they can let people know how the trial went on. It will also show that the Government has nothing to hide.''