DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad were at loggerheads for decades before the two became comrades in arms last year.

But even when the two were bitter foes, Lim said he had never called the former premier "mahafiraun" (great pharoah) or "mahazalim" (most cruel).

"It is public record that Mahathir and I had many great differences during his 22 years as prime minister, and (my son) Lim Guan Eng and I became 'guests of His Majesty’s government' during his premiership in the Ops Lalang dragnet nearly 30 years ago.

"But I had never been personal, vengeful or vindictive – I had never called Mahathir mahafiraun or mahazalim – as our differences were always on government policies and actions," Lim said last night.

Mahathir's presence as a member of the opposition is still not welcomed by some of his past foes, who want him to apologise for his past actions.

In an interview with Malaysiakini on Sept 14 however, Mahathir said apologies go both ways and that his opponents should also apologise for calling him mahafiraun and mahazalim.

Speaking at a DAP dinner in Port Klang, Selangor, Lim said he and Mahathir are now united by a larger common goal to "save Malaysia from kleptocracy."

"Only a change of federal government in the forthcoming 14th general election can save Malaysia from global kleptocracy, for the Umno-BN government of (Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak (who) has done absolutely nothing in the past few years to clear or cleanse Malaysia of the shame, indignity, infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy," he said.

Both Lim and Mahathir have accused Najib of abusing public funds for personal gain, allegations which the prime minister has denied.