But his plea for the reformists to let bygones be bygones, appeared to be unsuccessful as his name was included in their resolutions proposed at the “Konvensyen Reformis” here this afternoon.

Resolution No. 6 states that Mahathir is not a reformist.

“And this convention is not a forum requesting for his views on the reformation agenda,” said the reformists, right before the event concluded.

Nine resolutions were proposed. Included was the statement that the “spirit and intellectualism of the 1998 reformists are still fresh” and have become an inspiration for youths.

Reformasi is a movement led by jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to press for political reforms and for the ouster of then prime minister Mahathir.

It was formed following Anwar’s dramatic sacking from the cabinet in September 1998, after a fallout with Mahathir.

The sacking also triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in Malaysia since independence, with scores of protesters arrested during their weekend rallies in Kuala Lumpur.

Mahathir’s speech at the convention was not part of today’s programme.

Saari Sungib, who leads a group of former reformasi activists called Otai Reformis, told news portal Malaysiakini that the former leader himself had made a request to attend the event.

“Can we let go of the past?” the 91-year-old had asked in his speech, to some 200 people gathered at the convention.

But his plea received mixed response, with some heard shouting: “No! 18 years, Tun!”

They were referring to the number of years the reformasi movement had spent ensuring “justice” for Anwar.

Mahathir had braved the crowd and admitted that not everyone was his fan.

He however called for unity among all those who wished to see BN out of the government, saying: “After that, if you want action to be taken against me, go ahead. Because as long as we have no power, these struggles of ours will not succeed.”