Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's surprise appearance at the Reformis Malaysia convention today drew cheers and jeers.

The 91-year-old was not listed in the itinerary, but he arrived in the midst of the first panel session of the convention held at Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam

The crowd, realising his arrival, immediately began shouting "Reformasi" (Reformation) and "Bebas Anwar" (Free Anwar), with a few shouts of "firaun" (pharaoh).

The panel moderator managed to placate the crowd into calming down.

He then resumed the proceedings, although the panel members appeared to have lost some of the attention of the crowd, who remained preoccupied with Mahathir's presence.

Anwar, who was Mahathir's deputy prime minister, was removed from government and as Umno deputy president in 1998 and was later imprisoned on sodomy charges.

Anwar's supporters have long blamed Mahathir for his fall from power and his incarceration.

Dr M requested attendance

The Reformasi movement, started by Anwar after he was sacked, began in 1998 as a campaign urging Mahathir's resignation and the end of corruption in government.

Anwar is now serving a five-year jail sentence in Sungai Buloh prison following a second sodomy conviction.

Earlier in the convention, attended by many of the Reformasi movement supporters, a number of attendees had expressed anti-Mahathir sentiment in response to other speeches which mentioned Mahathir.

During the opening speech Otai Reformis 1998 chairperson Saari Sungib, he said they would only accept Mahathir if he joins their campaign to free Anwar and if he apologises for what he had done during his reign as prime minister.

This received great applause from the crowd.

Saari later told Malaysiakini that they did not invite Mahathir to the event.

He said Mahathir had made a request to attend the event through Khairuddin Abu Bakar, and he (Saari) relented this morning on the condition that Mahathir emphasised Anwar's importance in the opposition's fight against Umno-BN.