Dr Mahathir Mohamad can be described in many ways, but modesty is definitely not one of them.

Asked during a forum if he would consider changing any of his policies, the 89-year-old former prime minister of more than two decades appeared to be at a loss for words.

"I must think hard about this. I believe I am perfect," he replied, jokingly, drawing laughter from the floor.

Mahathir said this today when speaking at a lecture titled "The Malaysian Dilemma", organised by the Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) in Kuala Lumpur.

On another matter, Mahathir said extremism appeared to be taking root in this nation because the moderates were not voicing out.

In view of this, he called on the moderates to speak up, for example, through forums similar to the one he attended this morning.

Ironically, Mahathir himself has been often accused of churning out extremist statements and criticised for his links with the right-wing movement Perkasa.

Nevertheless, Mahathir said if moderates simply "let things be", the extremists will "dominate" the whole society.

"If the moderates do not rebut them, you will let the extremists become more powerful".

'Moderates should annoy the extremists'

Admitting that moderates by nature liked to have a low profile and do not like to annoy people, Mahathir believes that they should actually "annoy" the extremists.

In a press conference later, when asked on his support for Malay right-wing group Perkasa, Mahathir said he will support Perkasa, especially if Umno fails to uphold the interests of the Malays.

However, he said, he would not support Perkasa if it were to spew out extremist statements.

"If they do something that is extreme, I will not support them," he said.

On another matter, Mahathir said it was only natural for the United States to rain criticism over opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's guilty verdict in his Sodomy II conviction.

"Anwar is the American candidate for regime change, that's why they are unhappy.

"But it's not for them to take the higher moral ground to criticise us. They should criticise themselves."

On the petition calling for the White House to pressure the government to release Anwar, Mahathir questioned the need for such a petition.

"Maybe Malaysia can make a petition to ask for the resignation of the US president," he said.

As to who should replace Anwar as opposition leader, Mahathir simply said, "Anyone can become the opposition leader, it doesn't matter, they are the opposition."

Commenting on the prospect of Anwar's daughter Nurul Nuha Anwar contesting as Pakatan Rakyat's candidate for the Permatang Pauh seat,  Mahathir's reply was expected.

"This (PKR) is a family party. So a family member has to replace (Anwar)," he said.