“It is very sad when we find Muslims everywhere mired in poverty and dependant on aid from others. Why? That is because they do not make enough effort,” he said after receiving an award from Cambodian Muslims.

“We know that when we own a trade or have a job, we do not have to rely on others. However, what we are seeing is the opposite… we have the intelligence and the skills but we are not taking advantage of them,” he said. “That is why we have to return to the foundations of Islam.”

Mahathir received a courtesy call from Cambodian Muslim leader cum Senior Minister-in-charge of Islamic Affairs, Othman Hassan, and was presented with the Muslim Exemplary Leadership award by the Cambodian Muslim Community in recognition of Malaysia’s role in assisting the Muslims in the country.

The prime minister arrived in Phnom Penh today for a three-day official visit.

This evening Dr Mahathir and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali attended a dinner with the Malaysian community. Some 300 Malaysians work and live in the Cambodian capital.