The verbal protestations came before, during and right after Dr Mahathir gave a speech at a makeshift stage on a lorry near Dataran Merdeka.

PKR leader Badrulamin Bahrom, who was scheduled to recite the event’s closing prayers, asked for divine retribution to “punish those who were zalim (unjust) when they were alive.”

Addressing a crowd of about 1,000, Badrulamin said: “You think you are Mahafiraun, but Mahafiraun were drowned in the sea. You think you are Mahazalim, but God will pulverise Zalim people.”

Badrulamin even included “Punish those who first jailed Anwar and those who keep jailing Anwar” in the closing prayers.

Earlier, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu chided his former foe by telling the audience: “Don’t worry, people, Tun is old. He won’t be Prime Minister again,” drawing laughter from the crowd.