Dr Mahathir Mohamad could be aspiring to rule Malaysia in the same manner as Chairman Mao Zedong governed the People's Republic of China, suggested Salleh Said Keruak.

The communication and multimedia minister was commenting on the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson's remarks regarding Bersatu pro-tem president Muhyiddin Yassin becoming prime minister if BN fell in the next general election.

Salleh noted how Mahathir said the prime minister must consult the chairperson before making any decisions.

"Mahathir even suggested that the party chairperson must be above the cabinet since cabinet members would be 'obliged' to the prime minister.

"In short, the prime minister is not independent and comes under the party chairperson who overrides the cabinet the way Chairman Mao ran China for 31 years," he added in a blog post.

Meanwhile, on Mahathir's confirmation of Muhyiddin becoming prime minister should the opposition win the next general election, Salleh said the former premier has finally laid to rest the crucial question of who he has in mind to take over from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, the minister said it appeared as if Mahathir was attempting to deflect talk that he wants his son, former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir, to be the next prime minister.

"So by naming Muhyiddin as the next prime minister he is suggesting that his son is not taking over.

"But that does mean Mukhriz cannot be appointed deputy prime minister while Muhyiddin becomes just a temporary prime minister," he added.

Speaking at a lecture in London last week, Mahathir had said that Muhyiddin becoming prime minister depended on whether Bersatu elected him as president.

He said safeguards have been put in place in Bersatu, so that if the party's president becomes prime minister, he would have to consult with the party chairperson and committee on government policy decisions.

A video clip of his lecture and the question-and answer session was uploaded on political commentator Mariam Mokhtar's blog.