Bangkok: Asian immigration is transforming Australia and the country will soon become "more Asian than European", Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has predicted.

Dr Mahathir, the 94-year-old political elder statesman of south-east Asia, made the comments during an exclusive interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He will meet with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Bangkok on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit on Monday.

Mahathir Mohamad, who is in Bangkok for ASEAN and East Asia summit meetings, says Australia will be more Asian than European one day. Credit:James Massola

Reminded of past comments where he described Australia as a European colony that was not part of Asia, and a deputy sheriff of the United States, Dr Mahathir said: "Whatever white Australians might think of it, the fact is geographically they are more in the Asian region than in Europe.

"They can try and sustain their culture, their language, but the inflow of Asians into Australia will certainly change the character and distribution of population in Australia. And in the future, they are going to be more Asian than European."