Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim has endorsed Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claims that Malaysia is a police state, and said the new government should address police brutality and repressive laws.

Anwar, who was Mahathir's heir apparent before being sacked, beaten in police custody, and jailed on corruption and sodomy charges in 1998, said the ex-premier's comments were a "devastating critique" of the new administration.

"It is incumbent for the present leadership not to repeat the blunders of the past," he told reporters at a Hari Raya celebration at his suburban home.

"On the issue of the police state, I think he is quite correct. The same laws are in operation, the same excesses, police brutality, irresponsible acts are being used by those in office or government for their own political ends."

"This matter must be discussed and deliberated fully and there is no point for the government to be in a state of denial."

Mahathir and his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have been feuding for most of this year, but the gloves came off last week after "peace talks" aimed at ironing out their differences failed, triggering heightened attacks from both sides.

Accuses Dr M of hypocrisy

Mahathir said Abdullah was running a "police state", and renewed accusations of nepotism, corruption and economic mismanagement against the premier who he complains is dismantling his legacy built up over two decades in power.

In an open letter to Malaysians, circulated over the Internet, Mahathir warned that a "climate of fear" had enveloped the country thanks to Abdullah, his hand-picked successor who was installed in the top job in 2003.

However, the 82-year-old firebrand who governed Malaysia with an iron fist has been accused of hypocrisy with his claims of corruption and complaints he is being gagged by the ruling party and the media.

Anwar, who now campaigns for the opposition Keadilan party headed by his wife, said he would return to Malaysian politics full-time shortly when his stint as a professor at a US university concludes.

"My tenure as professor at Georgetown will end in early December and I've given notice that I don't intend to continue which means that I will be here, full time," he said.

Although the sodomy charge against Anwar has been overturned, the corruption charge still stands and excludes him from politics until 2008. The next general elections must be held by 2009.

Read the full transcript of Anwar's press conference here