PKR Youth wants the historic handshake between the party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be a cause for unity, not disunity, among the party’s rank.

When contacted, the party’s national Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin said that Umno leaders, who appear to dismiss the event with various comments, were now worried that the two sworn enemies 18 years ago have met.

“This is such a memorable event that Umno leaders are now worried; they do not know what to do because it is difficult to find another event to match what happened on Sept 5,” Afif told Malaysiakini.

“If everything goes well, Umno is doomed," said the Penang executive councillor.

He was referring to Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed who believed the 'historic meeting' between Mahathir and his arch-rival Anwar may cause unhappy PKR members to quit the party.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed appreciation for the reunion, but pointed out that the gesture would also be widely interpreted as a sign of political desperation.

The surprise incident happened at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday when Mahathir appeared to support Anwar's bid to challenge the National Security Council Act.

It was their first meeting after 18 years, following Anwar’s sacking from his deputy prime minister’s post by Mahathir.

Anwar, who has always maintained his innocence, was subsequently jailed for sodomy and corruption but released in 2004 when his sodomy conviction was overturned.

The former opposition leader was once again charged with committing sodomy in 2008, and has been serving a five-year jail sentence since February last year.

The sacking led to the reformasi movement, and for a decade, the enmity between Mahathir and Anwar hogged the political scene, followed by the opposition parties uniting to capture several states including Selangor, Penang and Kelantan in 2008 and 2013.

Meanwhile, Afif said PKR leaders were aware of the incident in court as it was witnessed by top PKR leaders, including party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Azmin Ali, who is also Selangor menteri besar.

“The incident took place in front of reformasi supporters.

“As youths in PKR, we are in awe of the great statesmanship and magnanimity of Anwar and the willingness of Mahathir to put aside their differences and long-time enmity for the sake of Malaysia,” Afif said in a statement today.

“PKR Youth is optimistic that this historic meeting is a new point for a more inclusive and organised movement for change.

“We welcome this meeting which opens a new era for us to work together for a stronger opposition coalition in this country."

Afif appealed to all quarters, especially PKR leaders at all levels, to be prepared to follow the example of Anwar who was willing to set aside his personal feelings for the sake of the country.

He said the idealism and struggle shown by Anwar was for all to hate cruelty and oppression, and to stay committed to the reformasi agenda for the people's sake.

“As youths, we also wish to invite all youth leaders to immediately move forward and not be shackled by the past,” he said.

Afif called on youth in DAP, PKR, PAS, Parti Amanah, and the newly-formed Bersatu and those in the NGOs to step up and be “a better person, not a bitter person”.

“The time has come for all of us to be united for the sake of Malaysians and for the future of Malaysia,” he said.