KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Both Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s supporters may not forget the past so easily, an Umno lawmaker said after the former prime minister signed a petition to free his former deputy from prison.

Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Irmohizam Ibrahim pointed out that Anwar’s followers had fought hard to end Mahathirism after the country’s longest-serving prime minister sacked Anwar as deputy prime minister in a "somewhat disgraceful manner” on September 4, 1998.

"They are willing to sacrifice the loyalty of their supporters for the sake of fresh support through whatever means for their own interests,” Irmohizam said in a statement.

"It appears the people are being cheated by political stunts and acting instead of them thinking about the people’s actual lives. It is impossible for both leaders to be perceived as ‘easily forgetful’ or ‘pretending to be forgetful’,” he added.

Irmohizam claimed that the difference between Barisan Nasional (BN) and the Opposition was that the ruling coalition’s support was gained through the sincerity of its services to the people.

"That is why the people must value Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s sincerity in his leadership and BN government’s service to the people.

"The government of the day has a consistent and tough stance rather than resorting to cheap politics in its agenda.”

On Saturday, Dr Mahathir, who attended PKR’s 12th Annual National Congress with his wife Tun

Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, signed a petition to free Anwar.

Anwar is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for sodomy that was imposed in February 2015.