Malaysia was rocked by a political shockwave as former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was unexpectedly freed from nearly six years in jail after winning a last-chance appeal against a sodomy conviction. The popular and charismatic Anwar, 57, immediately vowed to carry on his battle for political reform, as huge cheers rang out from hundreds of his supporters outside the Federal Court, the country's highest. "I'm committed to the struggle with the opposition parties that are committed to reform. I'm starting it right away," Anwar told reporters He said, however, he believed he had Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to thank for the fact that the court had overturned his conviction and nine-year sentence -- a move which took most Malaysians and Anwar himself by surprise. "I must thank Badawi for the decision," he said, adding: "Of course you have to remember his predecessor would not have made this judgement." This was a reference to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who sacked Anwar on September 2, 1998, sparking street protests by thousands of his supporters. Anwar was jailed shortly afterwards on corruption and sodomy charges, which he says were trumped up to prevent him mounting a political challenge to Mahathir. The trial was heavily criticised by human rights groups. He had completed the corruption sentence and started serving time for allegedly sodomising an official driver before Thursday's victory. Outside the court supporters held banners reading "Welcome back", "Long live Anwar" and "Arrest Mahathir". Anwar said, however, he had no malice against Mahathir, who retired in October last year after 22 years in power. The man who was once seen as Mahathir's heir apparent appeared in court with medical braces on his neck and back after ignoring the advice of doctors who declared him unfit to attend the hearing. He left the court in a wheelchair. He was admitted to hospital in July after suffering complications from a damaged spinal disc which he blamed on a police beating after his arrest. Anwar said he would leave soon for surgery in Germany. A spokesman said the Saudi Arabian government had offered the use of a private jet to fly him to Munich and he would most probably leave Friday. Anwar sat calmly during the one-and-a-half-hour court judgement, but smiled widely afterwards as he spoke to reporters and took congratulatory phone calls, saying: "It's good to be free." **PHOTO CAPTION*** Supporters surround former Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after he was set free. (AFP)