KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia's prime minister on Sunday advised his country’s youth to work in Turkey and gain experience to contribute to growth in their own country. 

Mahathir Mohamad, addressed university students on the country's national day celebrations, warning that western lifestyles and values were increasingly corrupting societies.

"There are those who follow this [Western] lifestyle. If we imitate the values of the West, we will become colonial again. Be proud of the values of the East," Mahathir said.

He underlined that Turkey's progress in development was the achievement of the Turkish people, lauding their industriousness.

"I think our younger generation should go to Turkey, learn Turkish and return to Malaysia after working there for 10 years. In this way, we can achieve change in Malaysia," he said, adding that Malaysia could follow the example of Turkey.