Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim, the former Deputy Prime Minister, is currently recovering in hospital. He went for keyhole surgery on his right shoulder on Nov. 12.

For those who are unaware, Anwar also happens to be serving a 5-year prison sentence for sodomy, after his initial acquittal was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2014

But the de facto leader of the opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party) has not been lonely.

During his stay, he welcomed none other than Prime Minister Najib Razak and current Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahidi Hamid over two consecutive days as visitors to his bedside.

Najib's visit

Najib visited Anwar in hospital on Nov. 17, and posted a picture of him and his wife Rosmah Mansor smiling widely, and sitting with Anwar and his wife, opposition politician Wan Azizah.

Najib said (translated):

"I visited Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital today. He had just undergone surgery several days ago. Hopefully he will recover quickly."

But that's not all.

Ahmad Zahid's visit

Ahmad Zahid also visited Anwar the next day, and also posted his own photo on Facebook.

He said (translated):

"Recently visited DS (Dato' Sri) Anwar Ibrahim who had undergone right shoulder surgery in the new HKL. Hopefully he will get well soon."

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Political opponents

Najib and Zahid's latest moves have left many Malaysians perplexed.

So why the personal touch all of a sudden? And why did Anwar consent to these visits?

Najib and Ahmad Zahid lead the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that governs Malaysia.

Whereas Anwar and Wan Azizah lead the PKR, which is part of the newly formed opposition coalition, the Pakatan Harapan (Pact of Hope or PH).

Usually, they would be political opponents. Anwar's acquittal for the sodomy charge was overturned while Najib was Prime Minister, and they have been at frequent loggerheads in the past.

But a wildcard entered the game when Mahathir Mohamad, the outspoken former Prime Minister, left UMNO and formed a new political party.

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Malaysian United Indigenous Party or PPBM) then announced it would join the PH. So Mahathir, Anwar and Wan Azizah are now -- theoretically -- allies.

Mahathir's baggage

In the first place, Anwar himself has little reason to remember Mahathir with fondness.

After all, it was Mahathir who sacked Anwar from his cabinet in 1998 and incarcerated him on charges of corruption and sodomy.

And the PH has yet to formally announce who it will put forward as their candidate for Prime Minister for the upcoming campaign.

Driving a wedge?

The awkward dynamic all comes back to one key factor -- the upcoming general election in Malaysia due by 2018.

Although the official date for the election has not yet been announced, the various parties have already been in election mode.

Could Najib and his deputy be trying to drive a wedge between two of the biggest names in the opposition coalition?

One thing's for sure -- the photos of Najib and Ahmad Zahid smiling by Anwar's bed would have given Mahathir plenty to think about.

Top image from PM Najib Razak's Facebook page.