Be firm but gentle. This is the how Asean must solve the Burma issue, according to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Imposing sanctions and forcing the military-ruled nation to do certain things was not the Asean way, he told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Even if Asean was to take a more stern approach, he stressed that it should not necessarily mean that it should impose sanctions or force Burma to do things that it is not ready to do.

"There is a belief that if you become democratic, therefore you become a very good people," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"One has to remember that it is a democratic country that dropped atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. It is a democratic country that invaded Iraq.

"It is a democratic country that is trying to force others to do things before they are ready.

"All these things show that just being democratic does not mean everything is fine," said the former premier.

Mahathir, who stepped down in 2003 after more than two decades in office, has always been seen as a close associate of the Burmese junta or military rulers.

Burma, an Asean member, is under the world's spotlight following the house arrest of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

War mongers

In another development, Mahathir also criticised countries that equated their strength and power with the number of enemies they could kill in war.

"There are some people who think that in order to settle disputes, you must kill other people," he said after attending a performance of the theme song for Perdana Global Peace Forum 2005.

The song, titled Peace On Earth is composed by well-known Malaysian composer Wah Idris.

The forum, to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 15-17, is organised by Perdana Leadership Foundation.

Mahathir, who is the foundation's honorary president, said "war as a solution" was a primitive idea.

"This is the way big countries resolve disputes and gain victories," he said, adding that he would provide many examples of war-mongering and how some countries profited from it during the forum.