JOHOR BAHRU: Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed has warned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim against issuing statements without approval from prison authorities, saying it could affect his jail term.

“Lately, several statements have been issued by Anwar. I wonder whether he really made the statements,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying.

“If Anwar’s statements were relayed through third parties and were not approved by the Prisons Department, then it is an offence that can affect the jail period,” he added.

Nur Jazlan cited as example Anwar’s statement welcoming Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) decision on Sunday to name former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate.

He also warned of action against third parties who relayed Anwar’s statements, including stopping them from visiting him in prison.

Anwar is serving a five-year jail term after losing his appeal at the Federal Court on Feb 10, 2015, to set aside his conviction on a charge of sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.

Earlier this week, the Prisons Department said Anwar would be released on June 8.