Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s move to meet and greet his arch-rival Anwar Ibrahim in court showed the former premier's magnanimity, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

While expressing appreciation for the reunion however, he pointed out that the gesture would also be widely interpreted as a sign of political desperation.

“I appreciate the gesture made by Mahathir to meet Anwar. This clearly shows his magnanimity in willing to meet his nemesis.

“However, this is widely seen a desperate political move […] The public perception is that his real intent is not to agree with Anwar or to befriend him as he (Mahathir) had said, but because he has a political aim amid very desperate circumstance where he needs the support of opposition parties.

“It is because of that desperation that Mahathir decided to meet Anwar, and the public views it as a political meeting without sincerity,” he told reporters today when met at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

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