KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were once regarded as the formidable duo as they held the position of Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, respectively, over 20 years ago.
Much has happened in 20 years, with Anwar getting sacked from Dr Mahathir's cabinet and slapped with accusations of sodomy as well as being sentenced to prison for corruption.
With Dr Mahathir back as Prime Minister after working together with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to defeat Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th General Election (GE14), a former Umno minister mooted the suggestion for a return of the duo.
"What if Tun Mahathir and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim joined forces again?" asked Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim on Twitter.
He added that Dr Mahathir can continue as prime minister and Anwar takes over as deputy prime minister from his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
"Try it out for two years, if it works, finish the term. Then Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can captain a new ship," he said.
Dr Rais pointed out that this would be a "continuation of the 1997 recipe" but remarked that there may be "friends in PKR who may not agree" to his suggestion.
Anwar is poised to take over from Dr Mahathir as the eighth prime minister however both have not specifically said when the transition of power will take place.
The incoming PKR president is planning a return to Parliament as he prepares to contest the Port Dickson parliamentary seat after its incumbent Datuk Danyal Balagopal Abdullah resigned to pave way for a by-election.