Dr Mahathir Mohamad, once criticised by his detractors as an iron-fisted ruler during his first tenure as prime minister from 1981 to 2003, has now accused Anwar Ibrahim of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies.

Mahathir, who will be turning 100 in June, also harkened back to World War II to launch a barrage against his successor’s claim of leading a “unity government”.

He recalled that during this period, Winston Churchill...