Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has described former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the “symbols” of the new Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Mahathir, who is chairperson of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), was once the sworn foe of Guan Eng and his father, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, whereas Wan Azizah is the wife of Mahathir's one-time arch nemesis, Anwar Ibrahim.

However, the hatchets have been buried in the quest to defeat Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the next general election.

Guan Eng, who is DAP secretary-general, said the new coalition – which now encompasses Bersatu - aims to "reset" the political future of Malaysia.

"Just like United States is trying to reset its relationship with Russia.

“We will retain what is good and discard what is bad, embracing everyone who wants to fight corruption and have a democratic government.

“That is what the new Harapan, with additional members, is looking forward to. One used to be part of the government (Mahathir) and the other is the opposition leader (Wan Azizah),” Guan Eng told a press conference today.

He also went on to deny that Mahathir and Wan Azizah have already been appointed as advisers of the coalition.

“Positions have not been decided. These will be decided at the next meeting.

“It's appropriate for Mahathir and Azizah to be the symbols of Harapan, we have a man and a woman, and the intention is to have a sense of unity and to look forward,” he said.

Earlier, Malaysiakini quoted Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) communications director Khalid Samad as stating that the pair would be named as advisers in the pro-tem committee.

Harapan, which intends to get the coalition registered, decided to form an 18-member pro-tem committee during its presidential meeting on Monday.