KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Supporters of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PKR including his family members and lawyers commended the court for acting fairly at his latest sodomy case.

They claimed victory in round one of the trial after Anwar was released on a personal bond pending hearing.

"It is a good action by the judge. He does not have to pay money for his release," Anwar's wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said.

Dr Wan Azizah said she had been concerned as her husband suffers from back pain.

One of his lawyers, Sankara Nair said that although the offence could allow for discretionary bail, the defence team had been apprehensive because Anwar was denied bail at his earlier sodomy trial 10 years ago.

"I believe, with the prosecution team not opposing bail, this court, and this judge, has been fair," Nair said.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said he welcomed the decision to allow Anwar bail on a personal bond, but said there should not have been any charge in the first place.

Lim urged the Attorney-General's Chambers to reconsider and drop the charge.

"Malaysia does not need another cause celebre. It is not good because the whole country is put in the dock," said Lim.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the hearing was a first round victory for Pakatan Rakyat and he hoped that the trial would proceed fairly, so the truth would be known and those responsible charged.

PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa said it was welcome indeed for the court to be "seen to be fair". He wanted such fairness to be the hallmark of the entire trial.