Mahathir says he'd like to 'terminate' journalists

Mahathir says he'd like to 'terminate' journalists

Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia's combative leader took aim -- with an imaginary gun -- at the media on Friday, saying he'd like to "terminate" them a la Arnold Schwarzenegger for eroding moral values by promoting sex and violence.

At a news conference, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad pantomimed lining up reporters in his "sights" and made machine gun sounds.

"Worldwide there is an increase in crime, and it is because there is a breakdown in moral values," Mahathir said, complaining that pornography was freely available on the Internet and video discs sold illegally in Malaysia.

"We have been showing all the violent movies - Terminator 1, Terminator 2, Terminator 3, Mahathir added, referring to Hollywood blockbusters starring Schwarzenegger.

"I would like to terminate all of you also," he said, aiming an imaginary machine gun at reporters and making a "rat-a-tat" sound. "Finish," he said, drawing laughter from the journalists.

Mahathir, 77, has led this Muslim-majority country in Southeast Asia for almost 22 years. He's been an outspoken critic of the international media, globalization and what he sees as the degrading influence of some Western values on Islamic countries.

The leader's feisty comments on international finance, terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, religion and many other topics have sometimes soured diplomatic relations with Western countries and made foreign investors uneasy.

But the unapologetic Mahathir sees himself as speaking out for the developing world in the face of Western dominance. This year, he became the chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement of 116 mostly poorer countries.

On Friday, Mahathir also lambasted modern fictional works. "Old stories like 'Wuthering Heights', they are very good, very educational," he said. "But now, without sex, without murder, there is no thrill."

Mahathir was speaking on the sidelines of his United Malays National Organization's general assembly, the last he will attend as the party's leader before retiring in October.

In a speech on Thursday to open the meeting, Mahathir accused Western countries - Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand - of introducing globalization "to facilitate their control of the world economy."