Former Malaysian leader Mahathir bin Mohamad, who will be attending the 11th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, said the forum complements the struggle of the “Criminalize War” objectives.

“Only if war is regarded as a crime and those who launch wars of aggression are tried and punished will we have less war or more peace. With peace, there will be prosperity for all people,” said Mahathir, who heads the movement.

In addressing recent tensions between the Koreas -- which was further escalated by North Korea’s formal claims of being a nuclear-armed state earlier in the month -- Mahathir also called for talks rather than sanctions.

“Sanctions punish the people, not the leaders. North Korea is not a democracy and the people cannot influence the policies of their government,” Mahathir said, urging the leaders to find “nonviolent ways to settle the problem.”

“It is therefore incumbent for the international community to meet North Korea leaders, especially those of countries friendly toward North Korea.”

Well known as Malaysia’s longest serving leader, Mahathir will attend the Jeju Forum, which takes place from May 25-27 at the International Convention Center Jeju in Jungmun, Seogwipo City, Jejudo Island.



An advocate of “Asian values” during his time in office, Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister stretched from 1981 to 2003. His political career spans nearly four decades.

His time in office was marked by major infrastructure projects and economic growth in the 1990s.

He also addressed the conflict involving his own country, which is currently locked in a sea border dispute with China, the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea.

“The countries concerned should hold talks to find a solution to the problem. Confrontation and war is not going to end the dispute no matter who wins,” he said.

During his time in office, Mahathir had strongly stressed countries’ independent operations.

When asked if such views still hold during an era of international cooperation, he said that while outside interference does limit a country’s independence, international bodies like the U.N. may interfere in “certain cases such as the genocide in Cambodia and the breakdown of law and order in some countries.”

He, however, cautioned against big powers intervening on their own.

Mahathir has retained a prominent position in political circles even after retirement. Most recently he criticized Prime Minister Najib Razak over the money laundering scandal. He is currently holding a signature campaign against Razak.

“I believe the present prime minister has done a lot of damage to Malaysia. The legal system has been undermined so that there is no longer any protection for the people and the country,” he said, calling the situation “shameful.”