The PKR president-elect’s relationship with Mahathir has been a popular topic each time he attends an international event and it was no different at The Singapore Summit 2018 recently.

“I used to be close to him. I mean very close. And then came one of the nastiest battles in Malaysia,” the former deputy prime minister was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He was replying to a question by Haslinda Amin, Chief International Correspondent, Bloomberg Television, on his relationship with Mahathir.

Anwar was referring to the time when he was sacked from the government and subsequently convicted of sodomy.

“But we were able to resolve (our differences). We say, ‘Look we have to work together to save the country’. That was the motive and I continued to engage him,” he said.

He was in Singapore to speak at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on the topic “Malaysia’s quest for democratic accountability”.

The prime minister-in-waiting also said that he and Mahathir would hold discussions on a weekly basis.

Anwar, who was recently elected as the Port Dickson MP, said he had made it very clear that Mahathir, should be given the space to do whatever he wants.

“I will just support. That understanding seems to be going on well,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

Mahathir is on his second stint as the prime minister following Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the May 9 polls.

“Frankly, to his credit too, we have gone back to the old times when we chat with each other and bring back fond memories of the past. We try to erase the nasty part,” Anwar added.