Harapan leaders set aside past differences to defeat BN - Dr M

PD POLLS | Pakatan Harapan was able to defeat BN after a 60-year rule because its leaders managed to set aside their past differences and joined forces for the sake of the nation, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, who brought along several cabinet members to campaign for Port Dickson by-election candidate Anwar Ibrahim at a ceramah tonight, told the crowd about his relationship with the PKR leader.

"Of course, Anwar and I were not in good (terms in the past). But don't forget that he joined Umno and was made a minister because of me," he told a 3,000-strong crowd tonight.

"If I wanted to think about the past and Anwar wanted to think about what happened to him, I don't think we can be united.

"(Amanah president) Mohamad Sabu and (DAP secretary-general) Lim Guan Eng went inside (the prisons), how to work together? But they were willing to forget about the past," he said.

"Same with me, if I want to think about the past... all kinds of names were given to me, such as tyrant and dictator. I am Mahathir, Mahathir Mohamad, not Mahathir Kutty," he said.

Mahathir said national issues are more important than personal grouses.

Twenty years ago, Mahathir sacked Anwar and the former deputy premier was sent to prison for sodomy and abuse of power.

Tonight, when Anwar was introduced, he held Mahathir's hand and raised it high.

In his speech earlier, he said: "I love him like a father, I also fought him. I accept he is the best man to lead Malaysia now."

Mahathir responded with a smile.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution and Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

The organiser later announced that a total 6,000 people attended the event, the highest turnout in the 10-day campaign. - Mkini