Welcoming what he called “a good move” by PAS to consider appointing a non-Muslim to its top leadership, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sarcastically said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang should made the Islamic party’s president.

“Why just deputy? They should have a non-Muslim as president. Lim Kit Siang can be PAS president,” sniped Mahathir at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“They said we are kafir for working with non-Muslims, now they want to have a non-Muslim as party leader. That’s good, good.”

mahathir in perdana university event 150212 Mahathir said PAS should not have any trouble accepting a non-Muslim as president, given its defence of non-Muslim Pakatan Rakyat leaders who have quoted Quranic verses in their political ceramah.

“After all, even if they are not Muslims, they understand about Islam (having learned about it) and they can now use quotations from the al-Quran in their speeches.”

He was responding to reports that PAS would be willing to give a senior party post to a non-Muslim.

On a related matter, Mahathir also welcomed the statement of PAS' Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad that the splintering of Malay votes among Umno, PKR and PAS was a healthy political development.

“Well, if PAS says that the splintering of the Malay votes is good, I agree. I especially agree if PAS itself breaks up. Let us not just break up the Malays, let us fight until PAS also breaks into many pieces,” he said, sarcastically.

Mahathir was speaking to reporters after a meeting with the supreme council of Mubarak, the organisation of former elected representatives.

NONE Asked about allegations of money politics in BN, as levelled recently by former minister Kadir Sheikh Fadzir ( left ), Mahathir coyly turned the tables on Kadir.

“Well, he should know, maybe because during his time, he used money politics, too,” said Mahathir caustically.

However, he admitted that money plays a large role in inter-party campaigning in Malaysian political parties.

“In the opposition and the government, to a certain extent, there have been some (money used in politics). Not to buy votes, but to spend for campaigning,” explained Mahathir.

Asked if disciplinary action should be taken against Kadir for his remarks, Mahathir expressed doubt whether Kadir was still an Umno member.

“It is easy to just make accusations,” he concluded.