(AFP) University lecturers caught inciting students against the government will be sacked, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying today.

He was responding to a report yesterday claiming the existence of an underground movement at local universities which influenced students to topple the government.

"We will identify them. If they are university staff, we have to put a stop to that. We have to get these people out (of universities)," Mahathir said, according to reports in several newspapers.

"When you incite the younger generation they will not hesitate to resort to violence to achieve their aim."

"That is the danger of inciting sentiments among the people that this government is apparently not Islamic, kafir (infidel) and led by a dajal (evil one), which are baseless claims."

Mahathir said those involved were mostly religious teachers.

The prime minister has in the past often accused the main opposition party PAS of spreading lies and inciting students to hate his government.