KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's outspoken former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has called on Malaysians not to elect a government “that supports war in an effort to create a more peaceful situation in the world.” His comments come as campaigning by the government appears to be in full swing, even though an election has yet to be called. Elections in Malaysia must take place before April next year. The former PM, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, and is the president of the Perdana Global Peace Fund (PGPF), urged citizens to choose leaders who would declare war a crime. “The change through the people's votes could create countries which would no longer resort to war as a solution to conflicts,” he said at a dialogue with Universiti Muhammadiyah students on Tuesday. The dialogue was held after he delivered a paper on “Universal Peace and War Criminalization: Regional Initiative” in conjunction with the PGPF's War is Crime campaign at the university. Mohamed has been outspoken in recent months in his attacks against the opposition parties in Malaysia and has urged voters in the country to support the ruling government, who has controlled Malaysian politics since independence nearly 60 years ago. He has said that voting in the opposition would lead to a catastrophe for the country, politically, socially and economically.
