Mahathir says he'd like to 'terminate' journalists<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia's combative leader took aim -- with an imaginary gun --
\nat the media on Friday, saying he'd like to "terminate" them a la
\nArnold Schwarzenegger for eroding moral values by promoting sex
\nand violence.<\/p>\n
At a news conference, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
\npantomimed lining up reporters in his "sights" and made machine
\ngun sounds.<\/p>\n
"Worldwide there is an increase in crime, and it is because
\nthere is a breakdown in moral values," Mahathir said, complaining
\nthat pornography was freely available on the Internet and video
\ndiscs sold illegally in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
"We have been showing all the violent movies - Terminator 1,
\nTerminator 2, Terminator 3, Mahathir added, referring to
\nHollywood blockbusters starring Schwarzenegger.<\/p>\n
"I would like to terminate all of you also," he said, aiming
\nan imaginary machine gun at reporters and making a "rat-a-tat"
\nsound. "Finish," he said, drawing laughter from the journalists.<\/p>\n
Mahathir, 77, has led this Muslim-majority country in
\nSoutheast Asia for almost 22 years. He's been an outspoken critic
\nof the international media, globalization and what he sees as the
\ndegrading influence of some Western values on Islamic countries.<\/p>\n
The leader's feisty comments on international finance,
\nterrorism, U.S. foreign policy, religion and many other topics
\nhave sometimes soured diplomatic relations with Western countries
\nand made foreign investors uneasy.<\/p>\n
But the unapologetic Mahathir sees himself as speaking out for
\nthe developing world in the face of Western dominance. This year,
\nhe became the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement of 116 mostly
\npoorer countries.<\/p>\n
On Friday, Mahathir also lambasted modern fictional works.
\n"Old stories like 'Wuthering Heights', they are very good, very
\neducational," he said. "But now, without sex, without murder,
\nthere is no thrill."<\/p>\n
Mahathir was speaking on the sidelines of his United Malays
\nNational Organization's general assembly, the last he will attend
\nas the party's leader before retiring in October.<\/p>\n
In a speech on Thursday to open the meeting, Mahathir accused
\nWestern countries - Europe, the United States, Australia and New
\nZealand - of introducing globalization "to facilitate their
\ncontrol of the world economy."<\/p>",
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