In a rare move, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad appeared in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today to attend his arch-rival Anwar Ibrahim's application to challenge the controversial National Security Council Act 2016 (NSC Act).

When Mahathir and Anwar met in the courtroom, they both greeted each other and shook hands.

Mahathir then gave Anwar a pat on his arm.

Mahathir was accompanied by PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and former Umno division leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

The move was seen by the others present in court as Mahathir giving moral support to Anwar, whom he sacked in 1998 as deputy prime minister, based on their common objective - both oppose the NSC Act.

Anwar, a former opposition leader, is seeking the court to declare the NSC Act as unconstitutional.

Anwar’s wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail later said that today was the two leaders' first ever meeting since 1998.

"The first meeting after 18 years and three days… since Sept 2, 1998…,” she tweeted.

Mahathir later went into the witness room with Anwar and they chatted for about 50 minutes.

The former premier said he came because they both share a common ground in opposing the NSC Act.

However, he denied that he was here to make peace with Anwar, who is known to be his long-time nemesis.

"I am interested in this case. This is about NSC and you know why. I have written about it in my blog, and he is doing the same (in opposing it).

"He is going to stop (the NSC Act), so I came to meet him. I had a long chat with him about what he is doing," Mahathir said as he left the court.

"I am not making peace with him."

Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) pro tem chairperson, denied that his appearance was to endorse Anwar as the future prime minister, if the opposition comes into power.

On whether they are friends now after the meet, he said he was not sure.

They did not touch on the past in their historical meeting, according to Mahathir.

In 1998, fell out with Mahathir and ended up being fired and jailed for sodomy. But he was freed in 2004 after the verdict was overturned.

Last February, Anwar was convicted of what he claimed to be a trumped up charge of sodomy, and was sent to the Sungai Buloh prison to serve a five-year sentence.

As late as April, Mahathir claimed that Anwar lacked the moral fibre to lead the nation.

Preliminary objection hearing continues

Meanwhile, the High Court has set Oct 14 to continue hearing the preliminary objection in the bid to obtain a temporary injunction to stop the implementation of NSC Act.

Presiding judge Hanipah Farikullah also instructed parties to submit their written submission on Sept 19.

In his submission made in the court's chamber, senior federal counsel Armajeet Singh argued that the High Court cannot hear the application.

"The High Court has no jurisdiction to decide the issue whether Parliament has the power to make law.

"That power is only with the Federal Court, so the application is misconceived," he told reporters when met outside the courtroom.

Lawyers N. Surendran, Latheefa Koya and Eric Paulsen acted on behalf of Anwar.

Anwar had sought the court to declare the NSC Act unconstitutional on Aug 2.

Civil society feared the new act would grant Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak arbitrary powers, and even bypass safeguards that existed in the old law.