PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim said he could be making a return to Parliament as soon as October and has made it known to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"I told him that I am going to Parliament, God willing, if I win (a by-election), before the year-end. Maybe October," he said in an interview with Berita Harian that was published today.

October will see the PKR leadership elections in full swing and the tabling of the budget for 2019 will likely take place at the end of the month. 

Anwar said he was considering a few serious offers from MPs to step down and pave the way for a by-election.

He said he will choose a constituency which will not only suit him but the constituents as well.

"It is not a question of who is offering me seats. It is a question of serving the rakyat. We need to feel comfortable (with each other), just like when I was at Permatang Pauh,” he said.

"(There), we were like siblings who could share laughs and I trusted them."

"To reach that (relationship) level is not easy because it takes time," Anwar added.

He said some of the offers came from those who were already performing well as an MP and it would be a waste to compel them to step down.

Pakatan Harapan had agreed that Mahathir was to serve as an interim prime minister and would be succeeded by Anwar, although no fixed time frame was set.

Anwar said that he enjoyed a good relationship with the prime minister and that they frequently meet.

"I don't have to agree with Mahathir 100 percent, but he is the prime minister and I give him space for him to govern," he said.

Anwar also acknowledged that Mahathir has a more difficult role to play than his eventual successor.

"Tun Mahathir has a major task, probably bigger than what I have to do later because of all the major problems. Change has to take place now," he said.