In a meeting of minds, Malaysia's top diplomat and its most outspoken former prime minister agreed that the United Nations (UN) is practically useless in its current form.

For different reasons, Razali Ismail, Malaysia's permanent representative to the UN from 1988-1998 and Dr Mahathir Mohamad both criticised the nearly 70-year-old institution as a political beast that tramples on the rights of the people it aims to serve.

Both were speaking to a gathering of international diplomats in Kuala Lumpur at the launch of Razali's book, a memoir of his struggle in the UN.

"Do away with UN! I think we should resortt to fighting each other again, a war to end all wars so to speak...

"I see a bleak future for the people who are in power (in the UN) and are loath to give up power," Mahathir ( right ) said to about 30 diplomats and government officials gathered at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations in Wisma Putra, Kuala Lumpur.

Razali, meanwhile, said that the 200 countries gathered at the UN just spent too much time and money jostling for national interests, with no real solutions for reform or peace.

"I have been harsh with the UN in my book," he said.

"The music goes up and down and it doesn't come to any conclusion and everybody feels that this is the way to go," he added, equating UN with the 'Bolero' music.

'I have lost faith in UN'

There was an awkward moment on stage earlier when Razali and his former boss Mahathir's remarks appeared to clash.

Razali's book titled - A UN Chronicle 1988-1998 - was co-written with Sharifah Shifa Al-Attas. It gave his personal insight into the functions of UN and includes his own diary entries at the time.

It tells of his struggle to promote Malaysia to help it in the international stage beyond a "backwater" nation status.

"I have to pinch myself sometimes. If 200 countries say they have the best country, then nothing is going to happen.

"But this is the way it was at the UN and the book is a product of that," Razali said proudly of his nearly decade-long project.

But Razali, who served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1962 to 1985, then conceded that he was merely a civil servant.

"The prime minister is the boss. If shit hits the fan, it comes to him first," he said, and drew shocked silence from the audience for a minute.

Razali had served under several PMs in his time before being appointed in UN.

But even though Razali had spearheaded a UN team that helped Myanmar open up to the world, he had some regrets.

"I have lost faith in the UN of the present regime. Governments alone cannot do it. We need the people, a bottom up approach," he said.

Mahathir then got up after Razali and gave an impromptu speech, condemning the UN but not before responding to Razali calling him "boss."

"Razali served under me for 10 years - he was able to deliver. Whether he is able to deliver now is a different matter..." he said.

"He was not always very obedient. He sometimes forced me to accept his opinion," he added later, taking another jibe at the veteran.

Reduce UN to five countries

Mahathir then nailed down exactly why he hated the UN.

"There is a great fault when the UN was conceived. They gave only five countries veto rights. This means that they can negate the opinion of all others representing billions," he said.

"We can reduce the UN to just five countries and they can decide and it will cost much less," he added.

Mahathir drew from history to remind that UN was started from the victors of World War 2 and now wanted "to rule the world forever."

"For the most undemocratic institution to promote democracy is to say the least... inconsistent.

                                

"If you don't enjoy democracy, they will come to kill you," he added.

Mahathir then ended his speech with the reason for the grand get together at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While he applauded Razali's long-delayed book, he added a sarcastic remark that memoirs were good efforts but hardly read anymore.

"Congratulations! If the price is low or if you give it away free... Then maybe people will buy and read. I hope it sells well," Mahathir said.