PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim said that both he and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad are aware of their unique past and present relationship, and are committed to not let anything come in between their goal of building a new Malaysia.

In an interview with The New Straits Times, Anwar said that the former foes-turned-allies were aware that they had overcome the odds in defeating the Barisan Nasional coalition, and would not jeopardise their chances of running the country.

“When it comes to Dr Mahathir and I, if in terms of close relationship, there has not been anything like it in history,” Anwar said.

“There was never any other instance in history when two such figures have battled it out so heatedly.

“Now, we have made peace, change can take place under a new administration that will fulfil the aspirations of the people.

“He knows it, and I know it. We will not allow anything to jeopardise this plan. It is a plan for the people’s wellbeing and it overrides negative sentiments.”

Anwar was Dr Mahathir’s deputy more than 20 years ago before he was sacked in 1998 and subsequently jailed for corruption and sodomy. He claims both charges were trumped up to avert a political challenge to Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir’s sacking of Anwar had shaped the country’s political landscape over the past two decades when it sparked the Reformasi movement and the setting up of Keadilan, which has been renamed as PKR.

However, both men made peace as recently as 2016 when Anwar endorsed his former nemesis as the leader of a pact, now known as Pakatan Harapan, to fight former prime minister Najib Razak.

In the interview, Anwar said he believes that there are no plans to come in the way of his eventual ascension to become prime minister, and reiterated his fullest support for Dr Mahathir.

“For me, the positive thing is that access to the prime minister is very easy and I do not merely meet (Dr Mahathir) to discuss work or projects for 20 to 30 minutes.

“We have heart-to-heart discussions about issues on the national leadership and things of national concern, about racial sentiments and its effects on the Malay community and policies,” he said.

“I do not think that after having gone through such heated political turmoil that Dr Mahathir will prevent me (to rise to the prime minister post).”

Anwar also said there was no time frame set for the transition of power, but stressed that the prime minister should be allowed to “conduct the affairs of state without encumbrances or being pressured”.

“The concern is that without a time frame, will he (Dr Mahathir) leave?

“Well, he’s 93 and he made it very clear that he has an immediate task to ensure that the country’s transformation and transition of power are done peacefully, and that the initial promises for change and reform can take place.

“I think we will leave it like that.” – September 1, 2018.