Prime ministerial candidates: ANWAR IS MORE SUITABLE!

DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang reminded Pakatan Rakyat leaders of mustering their efforts to publicise Pakatan Rakyat's "unite and rule" politics to avoid falling into the Umno's and BN's trap of "divide and rule". Wouldn't they fall into the BN's trap to controvert over the prime ministerial candidates now?

MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has kept speculating as he knows that PAS does not really agree to make Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the prime minister if the Pakatan Rakyat takes over the power. The Utusan Malaysia had also reported on its cover page that the DAP would contest in 90 Parliamentary seats as a preparation to field a candidate for the prime minister post. The Pakatan Rakyat, however, was able to restrain itself and did not let their tussle surface, until PAS' political ambition was reflected when some delegates expressed their support to make party President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang the prime minister during the party's 58th muktamar.

PAS Ulama wing believes that since Malaysia is an Islamic State, Hadi Awang should then be the most suitable prime ministerial candidate. While the Muslimat wing said that PAS will be eligible to lead the country as long as the party is able to win 60 parliamentary seats.

In addition, Hadi Awang has slightly changed his attitude. He rejected to be appointed the prime minister and said he would not recommend himself for the post either on Saturday as he believed that he was more suitable to be the country's "server". During his winding-up speech, however, he welcomed the call that he be appointed the prime minister and said, "It is syiok (thrilling) to be the PM."

It is indeed a wishful thinking. If the Pakatan Rakyat takes over the power, the key to decide the prime ministerial candidate lies on the DAP, not PAS' number of seats.

As we all know, a prime ministerial candidate must be a member of Parliament who must also receive support from more than half of the MPs. All incumbent Umno presidents in the past have always become the prime minister naturally because the BN has controlled the majority of parliamentary seats. Umno has been the backbone of the BN and thus, there would be no objection and it would not have to be voted in the Parliament.

However, Pakatan Rakyat's situation is different. The three component parties have equal status and none of them is holding particularly more seats than the other two parties. In the 2008 general election, the DAP contested in 47 seats, the PKR contested in 97 seats and PAS contested in 66 seats among the total 222 seats.

Although the negotiation over seat distribution has not yet completed, the DAP has said that it will not contest in more than 60 parliamentary seats in the next general election. If the PKR and PAS are going to contest in the similar constituencies as of those in the previous election, even if PAS is able to win all seats, it will hold only about 60 seats. It will be difficult for PAS to make Hadi Awang the prime minister without the DAP's support.

DAP leaders admitted earlier that they were having a better relation and understanding with PAS compared to the PKR as they had established a friendship at the Kamunting detention centre during the 1987 Operasi Lalang.

However, in terms of choosing the prime ministerial candidate, the DAP insists on supporting Anwar as PAS has not yet given up the hudud law agenda. Making Anwar the default prime minister could calm the Chinese community.

Anwar is also more suitable than Hadi Awang in terms of capacity, because Anwar has a wealth of administrative experience, while Hadi Awang is an expert in religion, but not economy.

Hadi Awang understands that achieving the goal to take over Putrajaya should be prioritised and if the alternative coalition splits because of the prime ministerial candidate issue, they will fall into the BN's trap. It is quite interesting, however, as in responding to the delegates' call, he said that the issue should be further discussed after the Pakatan Rakyat has taken over the office.

From the rumoured cooperation between PAS and Umno to the prime ministerial candidate issue, PAS has always been so elusive.

-Sin Chew Daily