Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said he is prepared to meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after his return from Mecca at the end of the month, according to a report in a Saudi paper.

He also said that it was premature to discuss the possibility of him rejoining Umno as it is only proper that he "discusses the matter first with all the leaders and the opposition".

He made the comments when asked by the Saudi Gazette if he would consider rejoining Umno in the event that Abdullah seeks his help. His interview with the Saudi English daily was published on its front page on Tuesday.

"The matter of going back to Umno doesn't arise. In the interest of the country and Muslims, I am prepared to help as a citizen, and I think I can do it with certain influences that I have but I think it is premature to discuss the possibility of my rejoining the party of the government (Umno) for now," he said in the interview.

"Because it is only proper that I discuss with all the leaders and the opposition. I have made an indication that I am prepared to see PM Abdullah soon after my return from the umrah."

No need to panic

Commenting on the statements by senior Umno leaders who labelled him traitor when registering their objection for his return to Umno, Anwar said there was no need for them to panic.

"I've never made any indication of my interest in applying for Umno leadership. So why the panic and hysteria in rejecting my membership and calling it an act of treason?"

Calling those Umno leaders "closed and shallow minded", he said: "You might remember that the founder of Umno had also left the party. And the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman who was secretary general of the OIC had also left the party. You call that acts of treason?"

He also stated that his immediate agenda is not to be tied to any political party, including Parti Keadilan Rakyat now led by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and that his priority is to be involved in efforts which will being back the dignity and respect for Islam.

Anwar also dismissed criticisms by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the policies he adopted while holding the finance minister's post, had undermined the Malaysian economy.

Not poor management

He explained that while holding the post between 1990 to 1998, the government had a surplus budget and had prepaid all its debts of RM12 billion.

"This is not poor management of the country's economy. My differences with Dr Mahathir is not so much in the running of the economy, but when he decided to spend RM20-30 billion for the new mega-projects - the new city, the dam - these projects actually caused a major problem to the economy because they affected the fundamentals."

Anwar is currently in Saudi Arabia where he had performed his umrah (pilgrimage) and ziyarah (visitations) in Mecca.

His aide Azmin Ali when contacted today said that for the first time in six years, Anwar had performed his first Friday congregation prayer today with thousands of other Muslims in Mecca's renowned Masjid al-Haram mosque.

"It was a meaningful occasion for him to be able to perform the prayer which he had been denied for six years while being detained in (the Sungai Buloh) prison. He also performed the tarawikh (special prayers during fasting month) yesterday and completed all 23 rakaats without difficulty."

Azmin said Anwar will be heading for the Medina royal palace after Friday prayers.