Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad has returned two awards he had received from the Selangor palace, including the state's highest order, a Bersatu leader has confirmed.

"True," Bersatu supreme council member Rais Hussin said when contacted over a report that appeared The Malaysian Insight, which quoted sources.

According to the report, both awards – conferred by the Selangor sultan in 1978 and 2003 – were handed over last Thursday to a senior officer at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam.

"He gave (the awards) back on his own," said Rais, denying that the awards were withdrawn by the palace.