PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has decided that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has right to be present for his civil appeal hearing against the Election Commission (EC).

The panel, chaired by Justice Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid, decided on the application after hearing submissions by both parties on Wednesday.

Anwar had submitted that he has an absolute right under the Constitution to be present in court for hearings.

He had made the contention through his lead counsel Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram while challenging a registrar’s decision to cancel an order to produce (OTP) him in court for his appeal.

Anwar is currently serving a five-year jail term at the Sungai Buloh prison for sodomy.-thestar