KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 ― Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wives of once bitter enemies, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, met yesterday and exchanged gifts.

News portal Malaysiakini reported that Dr Siti Hasmah, spouse of former prime minister Dr Mahathir, visited the PKR de facto leader’s wife at her residence in Segambut and gave Dr Wan Azizah a copy of her memoir, My name is Hasmah, while Dr Wan Azizah gave the former goat milk products.

“It was very touching in the beginning. Kak Wan (Wan Azizah) greeted and hugged Tun Siti and tears were shed. It was very touching.

“Tun Siti spent about an hour and 45 minutes at Kak Wan's home. They talked a lot about old times,” Dr Mahathir’s supporter, Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, was quoted saying about the meeting.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s strategic communications director, Yin Shao Loong, tweeted pictures of the two women meeting.

The spouses of Dr Mahathir and of his former deputy, Anwar, met amid efforts by Dr Mahathir’s new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), and Pakatan Harapan to unite the Opposition for straight fights against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election.

Dr Mahathir and Anwar met last September for the first time after the former sacked the latter from Cabinet 18 years ago in 1998.