Former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim can walk out of the Sungai Buloh prison a free man on June 8, according to the Home Ministry.

In a parliamentary written reply, the ministry said based on his sentence and remission for good behaviour, the date of release is June 10.

Since this falls on the weekend, the 70-year-old politician can be released on Friday (June 8).

However, the ministry included a caveat in its response.

“A prisoner's sentence and date of release can change if the prisoner commits a wrongdoing, which results in the revocation of the remission under the Prison Rules 2000,” it said.

The ministry was responding to a question from Gooi Hsiao Leung (PKR-Alor Setar) who asked the home minister to confirm if the date of Anwar's release is June 8 based on the one-third remission of his sentence.

The former opposition leader is currently serving a five-year sentence for a sodomy conviction.

Anwar has maintained that the charge was fabricated by his political rivals but the authorities have denied this.

In January, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Anwar's press statements from prison might affect his sentence.

He said Anwar required the approval of the Prisons Department director-general to issue the statements.

"Lately, several statements have been issued by Anwar. I wonder whether he really made the statements,” he added.

Nur Jazlan said the statements included Anwar’s “blessing” of Pakatan Harapan's proposal to name former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as their candidate for prime minister’s post.

"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.