Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim plans to run for parliament, his party said on Tuesday.

Anwar, who is facing a criminal investigation over sodomy allegations, would contest in either the Kulim Bandar Baharu seat in northern Kedah state or Bandar Tun Razak.

The Kulim seat was won by a member of Anwar's party in the March election but the ruling United Malays National Organisation party wants the court to disqualify him on the grounds that he did not submit his account of expenditure after the last election in 2004.

"If the seat's empty we need someone to go and stand and he should be in parliament," near the Malaysian capital, said People's Justice Party spokesman Tian Chua.

Chua that the court would hear the case on August 19.