Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak has been told to "make up his mind" on the role DAP should have in Pakatan Harapan.

Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu (Bersatu) strategist Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff said this in response to Salleh questioning the absence of DAP leaders in Harapan's top three positions.

"He has to make up his mind what it is that he wants - DAP dominating Harapan or equitable representation of people in Harapan?" Rais told Malaysiakini today.

He pointed out that Salleh and other Umno leaders have always claimed that DAP calls the shots in Harapan and Malay interests would be sidelined if the opposition coalition comes to power.

"Now they are saying DAP has been sidelined. So, which is which?" he asked.

Rais also believes that the announcement of Harapan's line-up has "sent shivers down the spines" of the coalition's opponents.

"So they are reacting in an irrational manner. They are fearful, afraid of what's going to happen next," he added.

Rais called on Salleh to look at his own backyard on the matter, pointing out how BN itself was dominated by Umno.

"Umno has a more number of MPs because BN decided that Umno will have the most number of seats to contest.

"Salleh had better focus on BN and how to clean up the mess it has created for the nation, rather than to train his gun towards us," Rais added.

Line-up reflects country's demography

He also denied Salleh's claim that the Harapan line-up was deliberately done to make it seem as though the coalition was dominated by the Malays.

"Absolutely not. We must understand, the coalition reflects the demography of Malaysia.

As for Salleh pointing out that DAP had the most number of lawmakers in the coalition, Rais aruged that the nation's demography was not only defined by the number of seats a particular party has.

"The number of seats don't really determine how the positions are being allocated.

"What is more important is equitable representation of all the parties that represent their respective demography," he added.

Asked why DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang was missing from the top line-up, Rais said that it was DAP that suggested the names of those it wanted to represent the party that were finally placed in the line-up.

"So we accepted those names."

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen and DAP lawmaker M Kulasegaran will serve as Harapan's deputy president, vice-president and treasurer respectively.

Jailed PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim was named as the coalition's de facto leader, while Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be Harapan chairperson.

Anwar's wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, will serve as the coalition's president.