To dispel talk of a falling out between them, Dr Mahathir will campaign in the PD by-election on Monday for Anwar, who has since expressed his delight over the PM’s announcement.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be campaigning for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in Port Dickson on Monday, although he had previously stated that he does not usually go down campaigning in by-elections.
Dr Mahathir, who is also PH chairman, said he and other component party leaders would attend a massive campaign on Monday ahead of the by-election.
He said that he needed to be in Port Dickson to answer the allegations thrown at him.
“I think there are a lot of people making all kind of remarks against me, so I’ll go there (Port Dickson),” he said referring to claims that he was not supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and to dismiss allegations that his relations with the PKR president-elect cum future eighth prime minister was cold.
Meanwhile, Anwar said he was happy when told Dr Mahathir would be visiting Port Dickson to campaign for him in the by-election there.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate, said Dr Mahathir’s gesture is a good sign for himself as well as the residents of Port Dickson.
“This is because Tun Dr Mahathir as prime minister in the previous term as I can remember do not campaign in by-elections. The task is usually handed over to his deputy and other leaders,” he said.
The PKR de facto leader said Dr Mahathir’s presence is seen as giving confidence to Port Dickson voters to support the PH candidate.
Also contesting in the by-election are independent candidates former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, Anwar’s former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, social media personality Stevie Chan Kee Leong, management consultant Kan Chee Yuen, former lecturer Lau Seck Yan, and Lt Col (R) Mohd Nazari Mokhtar of PAS.