Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today accused rich western countries of robbing the best minds from developing nations.

The fiery former premier, known for his vitriolic anti-western attacks, also called on poor countries to make a stand and demand that they be paid for losing their best minds.

"They rob from us but don't pay us," Mahathir was quoted by the Bernama news agency as saying on the sidelines of an anti-poverty summit in the northern resort island of Langkawi.

Mahathir in particular accused multinational phamaceutical firms of pirating highly skilled researchers and doctors to develop breakthrough medicines that in turn were sold expensively in poor countries.

'Who does the research?'

"But who does the research? It could be doctors and researchers originating from poor nations who are given jobs by these rich countries or rich pharmaceutical companies," he said.

"What poor countries must do is to get compensation for the brain drain," Mahathir stressed. "This should be their aim."

Mahathir's close friend, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, internationally condemned for his nation's economic meltdown and human rights abuses, is also attending the gathering.

Mahathir, 81, retired in October 2003 after 22 years in power.