The handshake between former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim may be the boost needed to strengthen Pakatan Harapan as a federal opposition pact, a Parti Amanah Negara leader said today.

Amanah communications director Khalid Samad said that their meeting yesterday could put to rest reservations among certain factions within PKR that have been against Mahathir and his new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

"There were reservations within PKR towards Bersatu. When there now is a reconciliation (between the two leaders), PKR as a whole can accept.

"All Malaysians don't deny the leadership of both these leaders, the potential combo of both of them promises a better opposition bloc," he told reporters during a press conference at the party's headquarters.

Mahathir's appearance at the Kuala Lumpur court in support of Anwar's bid to challenge the National Security Council Act was their first meeting in 18 years.

The Shah Alam MP added that he had previously suggested that Mahathir should mend his relationship with Anwar in order to consolidate support for his movement against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I have personally spoken before to Mahathir to reconcile because then the whole of PKR would be together with the Citizens' Declaration," Khalid said, adding that the same suggestion was also raised by Salor assemblyperson Husam Musa.

Separately, Amanah strategic director Dzulkefly Ahmad also described their meeting as a miraculous turn of events that promised a new start to the Malaysian political narrative.

"This is a starting point to continue the leadership collaboration between these two leaders, especially among those who have been waiting for nearly two decades.

"I am confident that the majority of the people want to witness the reconciliation of these two statesmen who have shown their big heartedness, in order to raise the agenda of 'Prospering the People and Saving the Nation'," said Dzulkefly.

Despite Amanah's two senior leaders' positive responses to the reconciliation, party youth vice-chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin demanded that Mahathir apologise for the various tragedies that occurred during his 22-year rule.

Among others, Shazni cited the Memali incident, Ops Lalang and detentions under the now abolished Internal Security Act as part of a chain of despotic acts against the people.

"If he (Mahathir) can apologise to the Malay Rulers, it should not be difficult for him to issue an open apology to all Malaysians.

"Yes, the people are ready to accept (reconciliation) if he does not continue being stubborn (and refuse to apologise)," he said.

Mahathir had in an Aug 25 blog post apologised for amending the Federal Constitution to curtail the role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the legislative branch.