Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, whose Islamic supremacist and antisemitic statements are legendary, told the Muslim Welfare Organization of Malaysia that there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim. (Hat tip: Mama Winger.)

But there’s a punchline: Islam itself is moderate, so how can a Muslim be “moderate?”

Oh ho. Bet you didn’t think of that.

(Bernama) — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today asked Muslims to do away with false assumptions when declaring themselves as moderate followers of Islam because the religion is indeed moderate.

The former prime minister said Muslims did not need to defend themselves as moderate or liberal Muslims as this gave a picture that were only partial followers of Islamic teachings while others (teachings) were deemed extreme.

“Islam is already a moderate religion…there is no need for us to show that were are more liberal Muslims than others. We are Muslims…period,” he said when opening the 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim) here.

Dr Mahathir, who is also Perkim president, said that even if some Muslims were labelled extremists, it was not because of the teachings of Islam but a lack of understanding of them or the religion being manipulated by irresponsible followers. “There is nothing extreme about Islam if we follow its teachings as contained in the Quran,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said the ummah (faithful) and Islamic nations must intensify efforts to dispel the notion held by many of Islam as being extreme, its followers ignorant, poor, do not know how to administer a country and are fond of asking for help from others.

He said that if the negative perception of Islam continued, it would adversely affect efforts to spread the religion as “no one would be interested to join a religion whose followers are seen as losers”.