An Umno leader has criticised Dr Mahathir Mohamad's praise of DAP, saying he has forgotten how the party is similar to Singapore's ruling PAP.

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi said DAP's use of Malay in their party song and convention speeches - which Mahathir lauded yesterday - doesn't ensure that it would protect Malays.

"Is Mahathir forgetting that DAP is just following the strategy of Singapore's PAP?

"Singapore's national anthem is in Malay, but what happened to the Malays because of the policy (similar to DAP's) 'Malaysian Malaysia' that is practiced by Singapore?" Puad said in a statement yesterday.

While he did not elaborate, he is likely referring to some claims among the Malay community that Singapore Malays are marginalised under the Chinese-majority PAP rule.

Singapore, which comprises 15 percent Malay as of its 2015 population report, uses Bahasa Melayu in its national anthem.

It also recognises Bahasa Melayu as an official language.

The PAP was among 12 parties from 10 countries invited as foreign delegates to Umno's AGM.

'Malaysian Malaysia' unconstitutional

Puad added DAP's Malaysian Malaysia ideal - which calls for equality among all races - is clearly against the Federal Constitution, which enshrines Malay special rights and privileges.

Puad was responding to Mahathir, who showed up at DAP's national convention yesterday, where the former premier lauded the party's multicultural nature.

Mahathir had said this in response to Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who during the Umno general assembly last week portrayed DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

Puad said Mahathir was just allowing himself to be used as a tool by DAP to hit back at Najib.

He claimed DAP's actions purportedly show that it is not truly multicultural.

Puad cited how DAP fought for Chinese vernacular schools without caring for national schools, especially those in rural areas.

He also claimed that under DAP rule, Malays in Penang had allegedly been marginalised.

"As such it is clear that Mahathir is just being used by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who (in reality) is the de facto opposition leader, not Mahathir," Puad said.