Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed his gratitude because he is no longer the Prime Minister at this time.

Without the post, he had the opportunity to comment on the issues plaguing Kashmir without any restrictions and boycott threats.

"Now that I am no more the Prime Minister, thank God, I take it that I can now speak without restrain and address the Kashmir issue without threats of boycotts and such.

"I had chosen to speak out despite being aware of the potential backlash.

"To my mind, keeping quiet is not an option when all the tell-tale signs were pointing towards another situation whereby a big and powerful country imposed its will with im punity on a sm all and defenceless nation.," he said in a speech in conjunction with the Solidarity Day ceremony for Kashmir at the Intercontinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Also present were Amanah Communications Director Khalid Abdul Samad, former Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad Baharuddin Shah, Chairman of the Secretariat of the Asian Regional Scholars Association (SHURA) Datuk Abdul Ghani Shamsuddin and President of the Consultative Council of Islamic Organizations Malaysia (MAPIM) Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid.

According to Dr Mahathir, the Kashmir issue should be resolved in a peaceful manner.

"I have said it before and I will say it again - India should work with Pakistan to resolve this problem and they must not ignore the United Nations (UN)," he said.

"Surely it is time that India rise above the status of a common bully into a leading nation, capable of rising above the ordinary and take serious and specific steps to put an end to these acts that are unbecoming of any nation that proudly claims to be a bastion for democracy," he added.

On September 28, at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Dr Mahathir, among others, mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir had been 'captured and colonized', and asked New Delhi and Pakistan to work together to resolve the issue.

The Prime Minister's statement enticed many comments on Twitter including netizens believed to be Indians, who expressed their frustration through #BoycottMalaysia.

Malaysians then decided not to remain silent and retaliated with #BoycottIndia.