It was vintage Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York today, 15 years after he stood on the same stage to lambast the West and Israel in his final year as prime minister during his first tenure in power.

In his speech today, Mahathir spoke in defence of “small countries” against the dominance of powerful nations, condemned Israel, and highlighted the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

He also spoke out against Western values that undermine traditional marriage, as well as the exploitation of poor countries through slogans of free trade and environment.

“When I last spoke here in 2003, I lamented how the world had lost its way. I bemoaned the fact that small countries continued to be at the mercy of the powerful.