In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Mahathir also criticized Western media whom he said took his comments at last week's summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Malaysia out of context.

"They picked up one sentence where I said that the Jews control the world,” Mahathir was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as saying.

"Only their side of the picture is given now. The Muslims, we are pictured as terrorists, unreasonable people, unable to administer our countries, unable to develop our countries," he maintained.

But the outspoken leader, who retires later this month, appeared rather defiant in his attacks against the Jews.

“Israel is a small country. There are not so many Jews in the world. But they are so arrogant, they defy the whole world. Even if the United Nations says no, they go ahead. Why? Because they have the backing of all these people," Mahathir said.

"Well, the reaction of the world shows they control the world," he said.

However, the veteran leader denied that Bush pulled him aside at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit Monday, October 20, to rebuke him.

“Certainly, he did not rebuke me, all he said was that 'I regret today to have to use strong words against you'," Mahathir told a news conference after the two-day summit ended.

"I told him I understand, … after that we were walking practically hand-in-hand," he said.

Mahathir charged that the Jews rule the world by proxy and that they get others to fight and die for them, in reference to the United States, Israel’s key ally.

Bush called the initial comments "wrong and divisive," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Mahathir also launched a new broadside at Australian Prime Minister John Howard, saying the latter was merely performing to type.

"John Howard did the same thing, repeatedly, even casting aspersions on our judicial system, as if we do not understand law, we don't understand fair deal and justice."

"In fact, we do. We had a very good history of treating our aborigines, for example. We didn't shoot them dead. We didn't commit genocide. So when making criticism of other people, please look at your own background and temper it with some humility."

The outspoken Malaysian leader said there is a fondness among leaders in Australia, prime ministers of Australia, “to make nasty comments like calling me recalcitrant, et cetera".

Howard, the target of Mahathir’s criticism in the past, opted to ignore the latest outburst.

"I don't intend to give any kind of political valedictory about him, I don't intend to talk about him, full stop," Howard was quoted by Reuters as saying after the interview.