Dr M: I’ve buried the hatchet with Anwar

(MMO) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he has made peace with his former deputy turned rival Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysiakini reported today.

“I have already buried the hatchet,” the former prime minister told the news portal in an interview.

Malaysiakini reported the 91-year-old elder statesman as saying: “I should hope so”, when asked if there was no more bad blood between him and Anwar, who is now PKR de facto leader.

Dr Mahathir’s remarks came after he met Anwar last month in a courtroom, their first meeting in 18 years since the former sacked the latter from government in 1998.

Anwar was later charged with sodomy and corruption. He was sentenced to prison in 1999, but the Federal Court overturned the former deputy prime minister’s sodomy conviction in 2004, releasing him from jail.

Dr Mahathir dismissed Anwar’s claims that the charges against him were politically motivated.

“The police say they have evidence, it is their business to decide (to charge Anwar),” Dr Mahathir told Malaysiakini.

Anwar is currently in prison again after the Federal Court upheld in February last year his second sodomy conviction and five-year term.

The opposition leader, however, is appealing the apex court ruling, with a hearing scheduled tomorrow.

Dr Mahathir’s new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, has been trying to consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general elections.