The Perdana Global Peace Organisation (Perdana) has expressed shock over the government’s decision to allow former British prime minister Tony Blair to speak at a local university.

mahathir pc 260608 05 Perdana's founder Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Blair was a "war criminal" for his role in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2002 and the subsequent death of hundreds of thousand of Iraqis.

"Blair cannot be regarded as anything but a criminal," he told a press conference in his office at the top of the KLCC Twin Towers today.

Mahathir said Blair had lied to his country and the world about Iraq harbouring weapons of mass destructions, a fact used to justify Britain’s participation in the invasion.

Blair would be speaking on the rule of law and good governance at the 22 nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture in University Malaya this Friday.

Mahathir questioned if Blair was qualified to speak on the matter considering his role in the war which some experts regard as illegal.

"This man is responsible for more (deaths) than (former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan) Karadzic. Certainly more people than Saddam Hussien.

"Saddam has been hanged and Karadzic has been arrested, but this man goes around the world, lecturing on the rule of law. I have to laugh," said Mahathir in stern rebuke.

Why the A treatment?

tony blair Mahathir said that Perdana was unable to initiate any action to cut short Blair’s visit but would like to urge the public to condemn the government’s decision to allow it.

"We want the country to know that he is a criminal who has been wrongly invited to speak which means he is not fit to speak at all," he said.

Mahathir said he felt "sorry" to see Blair being treated "so well" in Malaysia as it made the country looked as though they supported the former British premier’s policy on Iraq.

Mahathir however did not suggest what kind of action the government should take against Blair but said that people could demonstrate to show their displeasure.

"I never asked anyone to demonstrate. But if people wants to demonstrate... I think it is the right of the people," he said.