Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim visited Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to wish him 'Selamat Hari Raya' in Penang's Kepala Batas on Monday and later insisted that the visit was merely a friendly call and has nothing to do with politics.

"The visit was to renew friendship, not to discuss politics. It was not about whether to join BN, but more to focus on an agenda and policies that could benefit the people," Anwar told reporters on Monday at his house at Cherok Tok Kun in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, after the visit.

The recently freed politician and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), spent about 40 minutes with Abdullah.

While there, Anwar sat next to Abdullah at a dining table at the foyer with other ministers - including Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud amd Penang chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon - while Wan Azizah sat with Abdullah's wife Endon Mahmood at another table.

The prime minister and his wife were gracious hosts, Wan Azizah said later.

Freed on Sept 2 after the Federal Court overturned his conviction for a sodomy offence and quashed his nine-year jail sentence, Anwar then sought surgery in Germany for a slipped disc. He returned to the country on Oct 31 after performing the umrah (mini haj) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Anwar also said that during the surprise visit, he did not raise the subject of wanting to see Abdullah for a more formal meeting.

"I was in a hurry to come back to my own open house. This is an informal Raya visit, it's not fair to make any conclusion about the meeting," he said.

Early this month, Anwar has formally requested to have a meeting with Abdullah as soon as possible after his return from Saudi Arabia. His aide Azmin Ali said he had spoken to the premier's senior private secretary Mohamad Thajudeen Abdul Wahab to convey Anwar's request.

Anwar told malaysiakini later that he considered the call to Abdullah's office as a formal request so "it is not necessary to forward a formal letter".

New political culture

Asked why he has decided to visit the premier, Anwar explained that as Wan Azizah - who was invited as a member of parliament - could not make it to Abdullah's open house in Kuala Lumpur, they decided to visit the premier in Kepala Batas.

"I am very pleased that he (Abdullah) showed his respect to me as a close associate. I did not expect that - my intention was just to send my greetings. He's very friendly," he said.

He claimed that his visit has established a new political culture where differences in political views should not jeopardise relationship among political leaders.

"Civilised attitude is required in politics, attacks between the government and opposition sometimes have gone to an unacceptable level, so we should register a new culture," he said.

He said he was thankful to God that he could celebrate Hari Raya with friends and family members.

"The number of people visiting me was more than when I was deputy prime minister," he said.

An estimated 20,000 people visited Anwar's open house on Monday.