KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31: Malaysia's jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim may be hauled back to court to face further sex charges, the country's new top prosecutor indicated Saturday, reports AFP.

"I will look into it when I come in. That will be next week. Okay," incoming attorney general Ainum Mohamed Saaid told reporters when asked if prosecutors would continue with sodomy charges pending against Anwar.

Ainum will take over on January 1 for a two-year term from Mohtar Abdullah, who oversaw the controversial prosecutions of Anwar.

Anwar's counsel Sankara Nair told AFP Ainum's remark simply means prosecutors have not ruled out proceeding with further sex charges pending against Anwar, once heir apparent to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

"There are five remaining charges related to sexual offences. We are ready to defend our client (Anwar)," he said.

Mahathir sacked Anwar in September 1998 on grounds of

immorality.

In April 1999 Anwar was jailed for six years for abuse of power and in August this year was imprisoned for nine years for sodomy, with the sentences to run consecutively.

Ainum praised Mohtar as leaving behind a "very credible and efficient chambers."

"Of course I will continue to have the assistance of Mohtar. He has assured me that anytime at all if I want to call on him to ask for assistance, I could have the assistance rendered to me," she said.

Ainum, the country's first woman top prosecutor, was the former deputy chief executive of the Securities Commission, the stock market watchdog. The attorney general serves as public prosecutor and government legal adviser.

Ainum, 54, has a law degree from the University of Singapore and a higher legal degree from a Belgian university. She worked for 26 years in the judicial and legal service before retiring from government service in 1996.