Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who used to be former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s biggest enemy, has refused to comment whether the latter should be released from prison or otherwise.

He was asked to comment on the statement made by one of his biggest supporters, former Umno Batu Kawan division chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who said that he will support any efforts to free Anwar from jail.

“That’s his opinion,” Mahathir merely said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Meanwhile, Mahathir said he was not in the know of alleged efforts to mend the ties between him and Anwar.

“I don’t know whether there are such efforts or not,” he said.

Anwar used to be Mahathir’s protege decades ago until the former was sacked from his post as deputy prime minister in 1998.

The former opposition leader was then incarcerated under sodomy for six years until he was released in 2004.

Khairuddin yesterday said Anwar should be freed (from his second sodomy charge) so that he can play the role of an effective opposition leader, capable of ensuring checks and balance to the country’s administration.

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) earlier this month issued a statement declaring their view that Anwar's imprisonment was "arbitrary" and that he had been denied a fair trial.

Amnesty International has also recognised Anwar, who was sentenced to five years' jail in February on a sodomy charge, as a prisoner of conscience.