INTERVIEW | Two decades ago, during the height of the Reformasi movement, this would have sounded nothing short of bewildering – Anwar Ibrahim becoming Dr Mahathir Mohamad's heir-apparent once again.

However, Malaysian politics has witnessed a series of bizarre and ironic twists over the past years where friends have turned into bitter foes, and sworn enemies have turned into allies.

In an interview with Malaysiakini in Putrajaya on Friday, Mahathir addressed the issue of his political relationship with Anwar having come full circle.

The former premier, who in 1998 after sacking his then deputy over allegations of sexual misconduct, had made numerous accusations about his immoral behavior, conceded that he is often asked if he now considered Anwar fit to be prime minister.

Sidestepping the allegation that Mahathir had trumped up a false allegation and orchestrated a sham trial, he said that a person cannot be punished for a lifetime.

“Yes, we all commit some little mistake sometimes. But we cannot be punished for that for the whole of our lives. That is not fair.

“You have to punish a person for up to a certain limit. Beyond that, you can't punish him anymore."...