Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad today warned of escalating global turmoil, cautioning against catastrophic upheavals if the current geopolitical tensions are not addressed.

He made these remarks while speaking virtually at the opening session of the Bay of Bengal Conversation, themed "A Fractured World," organised by the Centre for Governance Studies at a hotel in Dhaka.

Mahathir, who served as Malaysia's prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and again from 2018 to 2020, highlighted the world's fragile state, noting that while some regions appear stable, "a strong undercurrent threatens to cause catastrophic upheaval."

He pointed to unresolved conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and what he described as "genocide committed by Israel against Palestinians" as major sources of global instability.

Mahathir criticised what he called the "blatantly brutal and inhuman" actions of Israel against Palestinians, accusing Western powers of hypocrisy.

"The self-styled guardians of democracy, human rights, and freedom reveal their fascist and racist nature as they support Israel's occupation, ethnic cleansing, and genocide of Palestinians," he said.

He argued that Israel has been able to act with "impunity" due to the support of powerful nations, which he alleged have emboldened Israel to expand its aggression beyond Palestine into Lebanon and potentially against Iran.

"Israel's state-sponsored terrorism is ignored, while any retaliation by the oppressed is labelled as terrorism," he added.

Mahathir also lamented the disunity among Muslim nations, some of which, he claimed, "effectively aided the Zionist regime" by failing to support the Palestinian cause.

The former Malaysian leader accused the United States of provoking conflicts globally, including escalating tensions with China over Taiwan.

He described the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan as a deliberate attempt to heighten tensions in the South China Sea, noting the increased sales of American weapons in the region.

"And of course, the sales of weapons by the US have shot up," he said.

Mahathir also alleged that the US and NATO provoked Russia into its war with Ukraine, warning that Ukraine would be "totally devastated" while the US gained insight into Russia's military capabilities.

Mahathir urged world leaders, civil society, and the media to unequivocally condemn provocations and foster diplomacy to prevent wider conflicts.

He criticised influential western media outlets for their "jingoistic" approach, accusing them of contributing to the resurgence of a bipolar world reminiscent of the Cold War.

The three-day Bay of Bengal Conversation continues in Dhaka, featuring discussions on regional and global challenges.