DR Mahathir Mohamad said today he did not meet with Anwar Ibrahim in 2018 to further his own interests, as claimed by some.

The former prime minister said he had never met other politicians to scheme but to oust Barisan Nasional (BN).

“This is true. For me, personal feelings, arrogance, ego, and self-interest have no place in any struggle, especially when it is related to religion, race and country,” he said in a statement today. 

The statement comes amid discussions between Pakatan Harapan, Perikatan Nasional, and Gerakan Tanah Air, which he heads, about working together in the general election.

Dr Mahathir said when he had met Anwar before the 2018 elections to discuss how to defeat then prime minister Najib Razak at the polls.

Dr Mahathir initiated talks with Anwar on in 2016, after founding Bersatu.

The first meeting took place in September that year, 18 years after the two fell out in 1998.

The meeting has taken place after the eruption of the 1MDB scandal linked to Najib.

Dr Mahathir today said that at the time, he had believed that the opposition must unite to take down Najib and BN.

“The decision I made was simple: to defeat the evil that was damaging the country, I had to work with my former enemies who also agreed to stop that evil.

“Because of that I was ready to meet with Anwar; because I believed he also thought the same thing.

“If I had to be the one who to initiate the steps, I would do it,” he said. 

Dr Mahathir said he does not care if people call him “shameless”.

“The fall of Najib shows that we have done something successful.” – October 21, 2022.