Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister could once again helm the country, with the opposition coalition naming Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its interim PM pick should it emerge victorious in the elections. 

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Anwar's wife, was also announced as Pakatan Harapan's choice for deputy prime minister at the coalition's annual convention on Sunday (Jan 7), reports Channel News Asia.

Dr Mahathir, 92, would serve as prime minister until his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim is ready to take over upon his release from prison, where he is serving a sentence for a sodomy conviction that the opposition insists is politically motivated. 

Anwar is expected to be released in June. Channel NewsAsia understands that Pakatan hopes to get around a five-year political ban for convicts by getting Anwar a royal pardon once they are in government. 

Mahathir, who earned a reputation during his 22-year tenure as prime minister of being a no-nonsense authoritarian with little time for dissenters promoting liberal values, stands to become the world's oldest leader if the opposition wins.

If the opposition wins, the component parties have agreed to immediately commence the legal processes to obtain a royal pardon for Anwar, secretary general Saifuddin Abdullah said at the alliance's convention.

Opposition to Prime Minister Najib has brought Anwar and Mahathir back together, with their parties now working in the opposition coalition.

Najib has been embroiled in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). In civil lawsuits, the US Justice Department has alleged that about US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.

The fund has denied any wrongdoing and Najib, who founded 1MDB, has denied all allegations of corruption against him and was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysia's attorney-general.

BDST: 1952 HRS, JAN 7, 2017
AP