In order to achieve peace with justice, people's belief system and perception of war need to be changed, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"It's our mindset and culture that war is permissible... Until you change the perception, then there will be no peace.

"No matter which direction we are looking at war, it's a crime... massive killing of people. You can destroy everything on a massive scale... that is still in our mindset," he said.

 Mahathir said this at his keynote address at the international forum 'Criminalise War, Energise Peace' organised by Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War (KLFCW) at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today.

He pointed out that in the people's mindset, killing in war was legitimate, acceptable, even glorious where killers were given medals and statues built in parks with respect from the future generation.

"We have no monument for peace... because our mindset glorified war... if we reject war as a solution to our conflict, then we will be moving towards peace with justice," he added.

According to Mahathir, it was not easy to change the mindset of the people whereby this effort and initiative could not be achieved in a short term with considerable progress.

"(For) 22 years I try to change the mindset of the Malays, I have failed, then I try to change the mindset on war.

"If only people understand that war is a crime... We can't change people's mind overnight, or in one or two years... (it) will be a long struggle," said the founder and chairperson of KLFCW.

- Bernama