DR Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim have had a long and chequered history together and questions are now arising if their recent reconciliation could lead to a new Malaysia or its fracture.

Despite Anwar’s jailing, the two led Pakatan Harapan to its recent historic general election win and on Wednesday, the PKR de facto leader was granted a royal pardon, which will pave the way for his return to Parliament and power.

Pragmatism prevails for now, said the Straits Times, but there is scepticism on whether the two can rebuild a troubled economy and heal a divided nation.

At this point, PH needs the guidance of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir to push ahead with its agenda of reforming the many institutions in the country after 60 years of Barisan Nasional rule.

The problem, however, lies with the “oversized role” played by former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, said the Singapore paper.

Daim is leading the newly formed Council of Eminent Persons and some in the Anwar faction blame the 80-year-old for creating a rupture between Dr Mahathir and Anwar during the recession in the 1980s and 1990s.

Dr Mahathir sacked Anwar, his deputy, in the fallout from the Asian financial crisis in 1997.  Their reconciliation was sealed in a courtroom in September 2016, during Anwar’s second sodomy trial.

But since GE14, observers are looking for signs of muscle-flexing in both camps in a “bid for primacy in the fledgling ruling PH coalition”, ST said.

So far, it said, Dr Mahathir’s camp appears to be ahead and with the appointment of Azmin Ali as economic affairs minister on Friday, it is likely to stir things up in PKR.

Azmin belongs to a faction at loggerheads with Anwar’s wife and party president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Tensions in PKR might spill over to the top. – May 20, 2018.