Khalid: Mahathir-Anwar handshake will boost support for Opposition

(The Star) – The handshake between PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be able to boost the people’s support for the Opposition, said Khalid Samad.

The Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) communications director said this is because there had been reservations in PKR towards the former prime minister and his new political party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi).

“PKR is with Pakatan Harapan but there were reservations within PKR towards (Pribumi),” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday.

The Shah Alam MP said the meet-up between the two, who used to be sworn enemies, could pave way for a reconciliation in order to unite PKR.

On Monday, Dr Mahathir turned up at the hearing of an application filed by Anwar to challenge the National Security Council (NSC) Act 2016.

It was the first time in 18 years the two were seen meeting face to face.

Dr Mahathir shook hands with his former deputy prime minister, whom he sacked in 1998 and later accused of sodomy and power abuse.

Anwar’s wife, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said in a tweet that the meeting between the two was their first since Sept 2, 1998.

Not confirming if he was making peace with his arch nemesis at the hearing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in Jalan Duta, Dr Mahathir said he was there because he was interested in the case.