Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is to give his statement from the dock on the first day of his defence in the Sodomy II trial, which means that he will not be cross-examined by the prosecution.

Entering its third year of hearing, Anwar's defence comes during the final stretch of the holy month of Ramadan and a week before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Aside from Anwar, his defence team is expected to call seven other witnesses from the 24 already interviewed. Only former maid Fitria Dipan, who worked for Desa Damansara condominium owner Hasanuddin Abd Hamid, is left to be interviewed.

It remains to be seen whether the seven include Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and former police chief Musa Hassan.

There is still an issue of sodomy complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan appearing on TV3 twice last week which the defence finds objectionable.

There is also the matter of subpoenaing the seven witness, which may have to be dealt today.

About 30 people have been queuing outside the courtroom on the fifth floor of the High Court at the Jalan Duta Court Complex as early as 6am to get into the public gallery.

The hearing is expected to begin at 9am.

LIVE REPORTS

8.28am: US embassy officials are among those from the diplomatic missions to arrive on the fifth floor. The queue outside the courtroom is getting longer.

8.40am: A Special Branch officer took footage of the crowd waiting outside with a video camera before entering the court.

An anti-Anwar banner was reportedly seen outside the court complex.

8.47am: Both journalists and the public are allowed into the courtroom.

8.50am: The public gallery, which can accommodate 70 people, is already full with the exception of the reserved front-row seats.

Foreign embassy officials are on the left side of the front row. Behind the dock, where Anwar is to be seated, are the seats set aside for family members.

8.56am: The prosecution team led by solicitor-general Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden along with five deputy public prosecutors, is in court. 

9.01am: Saiful's lawyer Zamri Idrus is also in court.

9.02am: Defence lawyer Param Cumaraswamy arrives in court. He is joined by his colleague, Sankara Nair, who is with Australian specialist Dr Brian McDonald.

9.12am: Anwar arrives with a large entourage including his wife and PKR president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Among MPs and assemblyperson present including Selangor exco Ronnie Liu, Balik Pulau MP Mohd Yusmadi Yusoff, PKR vice-president N Surendran and PKR disciplinary committee chairperson Dr Tan Kee Kwong.

Court is full to the brim. Some are all standing at the right side of the public gallery as all seats are taken up.

9.21am: Another Australian, pathologist and forensic expert Dr David Wells, is also in court.

Lead defence lawyer Karpal Singh has yet to arrive.

Anwar's team is expected to reveal the defence list when the court hearing kicks off.

9.27am: Lembah Pantai MP and PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar is among those sitting in the public gallery.

Also in court is Queens Counsel Mark Trowell, who is holding a watching brief for the Inter-Parliamentary Union as well as the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

9.31am: Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim arrives and shakes hands with Anwar and a number of embassy officials before taking a seat in the public gallery. 

9.33am: Karpal enters the courtroom with defence lawyer Ram Karpal. The court is ready. There are about 20 people standing in the public gallery.

9.34am: Court called into session. Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah enters the courtroom.

9.55am: Court resumes. Although Anwar is giving a statement from the dock, he is seated on the lawyer's bench where there is a microphone.

There is pin drop silence as the gallery awaits Anwar's statement.

Justice Zabidin notes that although the accused is sitted among lawyers, it is still considered a statement from the dock.