PARLIAMENT | Lawmakers from both sides of the divide engaged in a friendly, humorous exchange at the end of the Dewan Rakyat sitting today, with Umno MPs teasing their Harapan counterparts about their support for Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim.

Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) kicked things off by shouting "Hidup PD!" (long live the Port Dickson MP) as lawmakers prepared to leave the House after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad tabled the midterm review of the 11th Malaysia plan.

Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali (PAS-Kuala Nerus) then chimed in, saying "Hidup Tun (Mahathir), prime minister for five years" as a bemused Mahathir looked on.

The PAS MP was undercut by Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) said, who exclaimed "Two more years, PD! Two more years to be prime minister, the term has been reduced."

Former minister Shahidan Kassim (BN-Arau), meanwhile, pandered to both Harapan leaders saying "Hidup Langkawi" and "Hidup PD". Langkawi is Mahathir's parliamentary seat.

Mahathir has pledged to hand over power to Anwar, although a timeline for the transition has yet to be established.

Mahathir had previously said he would be prime minister for only two years but has also said he may stay on for longer if necessary.

Many Umno MPs have continuously teased Anwar about being the next prime minister ever since he was sworn in as Port Dickson MP on Monday.

Meanwhile, as Noraini continued to tease Anwar, Harapan MPs retaliated, urging her to quit BN.

Thomas Su (Harapan-Kampar) told her there were many empty spots for independent MPs, while PKR's Willie Mongin (Harapan-Puncak Borneo) said he could hand Noraini a membership form.

Noraini jested that she'd only work out a deal once Anwar was in power.

"Wait for PD to sit there (at the PM's place), then we can deal," she said before leaving the House.