MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng cannot become the prime minister even if he potong (circumcises) and converts to Islam.

azlan “We want to ask Lim whether he will potong . But even if he potong , he would still not be acceptable (as prime minister) because he would not be a true Muslim,” Chua was quoted as saying in several Chinese dailies.

“He would only have converted to Islam, he would only have 'bin Abdullah' in his name.”

Chua’s remarks were made in a speech in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, at a meeting with local Chinese associations.

He was responding to a statement by DAP chairperson Karpal Singh that he will continue to fight for the appointment of a non-Malay prime minister.

“As long as I'm alive, I will fight to see a non-Malay to become prime minister,” he was quoted as saying in Utusan Malaysia last Thursday.

karpal singh pc penang 180312 Since then the Umno-owned Malay daily has been reporting responses from various groups and individuals criticising Karpal and DAP.

However DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has accused Utusan of misquoting Karpal.

 

He clarified that Karpal was only referring to the federal constitution which provides that the office of prime minister is open to all citizens, regardless of race, religion or region.

“But we accept the political realities that, during Karpal’s and my lifetime, it will be a Malay and not a non-Malay who will be the prime minister,” conceded Lim.

PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat later responded that anyone is eligible for the post, as long as he or she is a Muslim.

‘Manipulation by DAP’

In his speech, Chua also reportedly said the DAP is trying to manipulate the issue to hold out false hope that Chinese Malaysians will have a bigger role to play if Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya.

He further challenged DAP to state whether Chinese leaders will be appointed to the four major ministerial protfolios - finance, defence, international trade and industry and education - if Pakatan comes to power at federal level.

azlan “If Pakatan rules ...  DAP leaders would be like MCA leaders who can only hold ministerial posts,” Chua was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily .

“If the prime minister does not like them (DAP leaders) and appoints them to govern ping-pong and badminton affairs, how will DAP dominate major policies?”

Lim had responded yesterday by saying that, unlike BN, Pakatan is not obsessed with posts.

“We are not MCA. The objective of DAP's political struggle is not to become minister. We will only discuss this when we succeed,” Lim was quoted as saying in Sin Chew Daily .

“The only thing that needs no discussion is the post of prime minister. It will certainly be held by (PKR de facto leader) Anwar (Ibrahim).”