KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — The DAP will push for a non-Malay prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) comes to power, an Umno supreme council member has predicted when echoing his party’s concerns that the Malays would lose power under the pact’s rule.But if the Chinese-dominated DAP fails in its bid, it would then resort to appointing a “puppet PM”, much like former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, said Pasir Salak Umno division chief Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
“They tried it in Perak. So if for the post of MB (mentri besar) they are also very keen, why not the PM’s seat?
“I am sure that is what they want. So if they can’t they will compromise and put somebody to become their puppet, like Nizar,” he told The Malaysian Insider during a brief interview on the sidelines of the Umno annual general assembly yesterday.
Tajuddin explained that this would likely happen as under a PR government, the DAP would likely emerge as the most dominant party while its Islamist partner PAS would become a “nobody”.
“How many seats are PAS contesting? Less than 60. To form government, they would need seats from DAP and PKR. You know it is only natural — the dominant partner will be the one that holds the most seats,” he said.
Tajuddin’s conjecture is part of the scenario that most Umno members trot out when discussing a possible loss of power to PR in future general elections.
The outspoken parliamentarian also shredded PR’s capability as an alternative government to Barisan Nasional (BN), saying that due to its lack of experienced leaders the country’s economy would plummet and instability would ensue.
He issued a warning to the Chinese community in particular, saying their businesses and livelihoods would suffer the most under a PR government.
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