With Umno subservient to DAP, non-Malay PM possible: Muhyiddin

DAP’s dominance in the current government could make it possible for a non-Malay to be appointed as the prime minister, said Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin.

The former prime minister then took a jab at Umno, saying the Malay nationalist party is merely a small party in the current federal government and there’s nothing it can do if a non-Malay individual were to be appointed as prime minister.

“Umno, which used to be dominant, has become a small party in the political alliance dominated by DAP. Whatever that DAP demands, Umno has to follow,” he said in a Facebook post.

“The history of the struggle of Umno, which was founded by Onn Jaafar when he fought the Malayan Union in the past to defend the rights of the Malays, had been ‘reversed’ by the Umno leaders today.

“(Their) self-interest has surpassed the importance of religion, race and the country.”

He then claimed that the redelineation of electoral boundaries in Sarawak, Sabah, and then peninsular states would see an increase in the number of seats for DAP in the Dewan Rakyat.

“The party (DAP) will have a bigger voice in determining who becomes the prime minister in the future.”

Muhyiddin said this in response to DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s remarks that a non-Malay could become prime minister. The DAP leader has since been summoned by police over the matter.

Lim Kit Siang

He concurred with Kit Siang’s statement that the Federal Constitution provides that non-Malays can become the prime minister and explained that the decision to choose the premier is in the hands of the 222 MPs of the Dewan Rakyat, not the people.

Under the Federal Constitution, the only requirement for someone to be prime minister, as per Article 43(2)(a), is that the person be an MP, who, in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s judgement, has majority support in Dewan Rakyat.

“Since our country’s independence for 66 years, 10 prime ministers have been appointed according to Article 43(2)(a). All of them are Malays.”

Changing political landscape

In the past, Muhyiddin said the democratic parliamentary and constitutional monarchy system had ensured that Malays would become the prime minister.

However, he said that is no longer a guarantee with the political changes happening in the country.

“God willing, PN will continue to fight to defend the rights and interests of the Malays and bumiputera as well as the legitimate interests of all races as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he added.

Previously, Bersatu’s Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal had urged Anwar to amend the Federal Constitution to restrict the prime minister position to Malay Muslims, saying it could help restore Malay support for the government.

In response, Anwar today said the issue of a non-Malay becoming the prime minister was played up by the opposition to create disunity among the country’s multiracial community.

The prime minister reportedly added that there was nothing wrong with Lim’s statement. - Mkini