Dr Mahathir Mohamad is suffering from a 'major psychological problem', his former protege-turned-nemesis Anwar Ibrahim recently told an Indonesian weekly news magazine.

In an interview with Tempo during his visit to Indonesia last month, Anwar said Mahathir "always feels he is in the right" when asked to comment on whether he (Anwar) was still bitter about the former PM.

"He feels the country's economic foundation is sound. He said he never gave his kids and his family anything, that they were never involved in politics, that the press under his government was sufficiently free, the police never oppressed the people, and so forth.

"I think Mahathir has a major psychological problem," he told Tempo . The interview was reproduced in the latest issue of Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) organ Suara Keadilan, as well as online regional magazine, Asia Views.

'How is your wife?'

Asked whether he harbours bitterness towards Mahathir, Anwar responded candidly: "I am no angel."

He disclosed that former US vice-president Al Gore once asked him whether he could forgive Mahathir to which he replied: "If he did me wrong, I forgive him. But if he stole from the people, he must give it back."

Anwar told Tempo that he has never met or contacted Mahathir since his release in 2004.

"We have never met. But when we do, there would be no problem. I will greet him with ' Assalamualaikum , how is your wife (Dr Siti Hasmah)?"

Anwar, who was the heir apparent to Mahathir until he was sacked in 1998, is now adviser to the opposition PKR that was established while he was detained and helmed by wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Questioned on what he would do if he becomes PM of Malaysia, Anwar detailed some of his agenda.

"The economy is uncertain. The corruption index, press freedom and direct foreign investment are down. This is what I want to focus on (if elected as PM)," he said, adding that there was no reform carried out by current PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Apart from that, Anwar - who is also ex-finance minister - said Malaysia must be competitive economically and accept globalisation. He also reminded the government to pick those genuinely intelligent over political appointees to head local universities.

He reiterated human rights violations must be stopped, the draconian Internal Security Act must be repealed and the judiciary system reformed.

Anwar also expressed his worries over the growing religious and racial tension in the country which he attributed to the hardliners among the extremist Islamic groups and the non-tolerant attitudes displayed by some liberals.

"I recently attended a dialogue forum among Muslims. The liberals said they would only participate if the discussions were held in English. This does not make sense. How will that affect the clerics and religious leaders present?" he asked.

Umno 'too corrupt'

Asked whether he was traumatised by the dark episode in his political career, Anwar replied: "In fact, I think about it seriously, but I never think about retreating. So long as I am convinced that the truth will win, I will play a role to the best of my ability."

He stressed he would not return to his former party Umno, which is "too corrupt".

On the current government, Anwar described it as weak and not bold enough to initiate changes.

"We are losing because at the end of Mahathir's rule, government agencies were ruined. The police, the justice department, representative councils and anti-corruption organisations were restricted.

"Then came Abdullah, but his government is weak and unable to make things right," he said.