Top Harapan leaders present during Amanah's National Convention in Alor Setar today showed that their ability to forgive, but not forget, will be a part of its recipe for victory in the next 14th general elections.

In particular, Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad credited Amanah president Mohamad Sabu's cooking skills, and quipped that he was the one responsible to send him for classes in prison.

"I still remember sending Mat Sabu (Mohamad) to learn how to cook in Taiping.

"He was paid 80 sen at that time... His cooking is reasonably good," said Mahathir (photo) in his speech, alluding to Mohamad's time in detentions in Kamunting prison under the Internal Security Act, during his tenure as prime minister in the late 1980s.

The Bersatu chairperson said this in urging all Harapan leaders to unite and cited his own willingness to work together with his "former enemies".

"They all used to be my arch nemesis," he said, citing Harapan's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

"But today we put aside all our old animosity because while it could still hurt us, it is not a problem that could destroy the nation," he added.

Mohamad was detained twice by Mahathir under ISA - the first time in 1984-86 when he was in PAS Youth, and again during Operasi Lalang in 1987-89.

Mohamad, in his policy speech to 898 delegates and various observers, also responded to Mahathir's remarks in reiterating the need for unity among Harapan component parties.

Recounting Mahathir's visit to his house in Shah Alam, Mohamad (photo) said the former premier had no qualms about eating his cooking.

"Tun was confident when he came and ate at my house. I did not see his officers tasting the food in case I had poisoned it.

"No such thing. Tun just ate. He should have asked his officers to taste it first, just in case," he quipped.

Being the first Harapan leader to speak, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in her own speech earlier praised Mohamad for his vast experience in politics, including the times spent under ISA detention.

At that point, the screen zoomed in on stage to show both Mohamad and Mahathir, who sat next to each other, in smiles. 

Mahathir also took Mohamad's hand and briefly raised their hands to show unity.

Harapan critics had often accused the opposition leaders of being hypocritical for now working together with Mahathir whom they had fought against in the past.