Anwar, who was serving a prison sentence for sodomy at the time, watched Mahathir’s swearing-in from a hospital ward after undergoing surgery for an injury.
Anwar spoke candidly during a two-hour dialogue session with hundreds of students at the Singapore Management University (SMU) as part of the Ho Rih Hwa lecture series today, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported.
His comments on Mahathir came when answering a question from a student on his thoughts when he saw his former mentor taking over as prime minister.
“Of course, I rejoiced. Everybody was so elated. Look, Mahathir was being sworn in, signalling a new era for Malaysia.
“He came up with a statement saying that once Pakatan Harapan wins, they will then submit an application to the king for an immediate pardon (for me).
“But I also felt that I should have been there, you know? I did, I did,” he said, waving his finger.
“I do not want to lie to you. I did think about this: it should be me not you (Mahathir),” he said, drawing laughter from the audience, CNA reported.
Anwar had served as Mahathir’s deputy from 1993 to 1998. Mahathir sacked him and he was arrested 20 years ago this day.
He was later jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption. He was released in 2004, but jailed again for a second time for sodomy in 2015.
Mahathir later went to see Anwar during one of the latter’s court hearings and patched up their differences. This led to PH beating the Umno-led Barisan Nasional and forming the federal government in the May 9 polls.
Anwar was released from prison after a royal pardon was granted. He would be contesting the Port Dickson by-election on Oct 13, which will mark his return to Parliament if he wins.
He is expected to take over as prime minister in two years’ time.
CNA said Anwar, making his second public appearance in Singapore since his release from prison, answered questions with humour.
Asked about the move to reduce voting age from 21 to 18, Anwar was supportive, saying he had met university students who were just 18 but were sometimes smarter than those in their 50s.
“But more importantly they’re more idealistic, more principled and they hate corruption,” he said.
Asked if he would retain Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng after becoming prime minister, he answered: “Make me prime minister first; we settle one at a time.”