Jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim welcomed news of his former nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad's presence at the Bersih 4 rally last weekend.
"I welcome the presence of Tun Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah who also joined the Bersih 4 gathering," he said in a note to his lawyers from prison.
The message was released through PKR this morning.
Anwar, who is also PKR de facto leader, congratulated the hundreds of thousands participants at the rally.
"It was a very big success and gives an important focus to Bersih's legitimate demands.
"The gathering proved that Malaysians are mature and responsible in exercising their rights to freedom of speech and assembly in a peaceful manner.
"Despite being threatened and faced with various obstacles by the government, the rakyat persevered in the struggle for change and fight against corruption and deception," he said.
Mahathir sacked Anwar in 1998
Mahathir had taken his party Umno by surprise after he visited the Bersih 4 rally on both days it was held.
The former premier had in 1998 sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister and subsequently had him jailed for abuse of power and sodomy.
After being freed in 2004, he led the opposition to its strongest showing in history but was again jailed February this year, also on grounds of sodomy.
Anwar ( photo ) had vehemently denied the charges, claiming that they were politically motivated to wreck the opposition.
The Bersih 4 rally demanded for sweeping reforms and also the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who is plagued by scandals.
Related reports
Jakarta Post likens Bersih 4 to uprising against Soeharto
Anwar welcomes former nemesis Dr M presence at Bersih
'I am not a yes man' T-shirts greet Muhyiddin at KLIA
IGP: Mahathir will be investigated over Bersih 4 rally
Anwar confident new party can strengthen opposition
Kula: Protest marks clear line of demarcation
'We had to change sanitary pads in front of cops'
IGP denies 'sanitary pads' accusation in Rumah Api case
We are the leaders we are waiting for
IGP not aware of MACC probe against police
A look back at sedition persecution in Malaysia
'What about those who defile opposition leaders' photos?'
After DAP, Tunku Aziz joins race-baiters
Should Bersih apologise for ‘feet on Hadi’s photo’?
And now gov’t is afflicted by balloonphobia
Scratch a little and the racial supremacist emerges
In one fell swoop, Tunku Aziz discredits himself irrepairably
