GE14 | DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's announcement that Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming was a potential cabinet minister shows that DAP is in charge of Pakatan Harapan, said an analysis in Utusan Malaysia.

In an article by Herman Hamid today, the writer said the composition of a cabinet was the prerogative of the prime minister, but usually through consensus with coalition members.

"Guan Eng or Lim Kit Siang (is Harapan's candidate for) prime minister, not even the deputy prime minister.

"But from what we saw in Teluk Intan, we know who is being led by the nose.

"Bear in mind, they haven't even won the election. Once they form the government, it will be 'Dapat Aku Punya' (DAP)," wrote Herman.

Guan Eng had announced Nga's candidacy for the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat on April 16. Nga will be taking on incumbent MP and veteran cabinet member Mah Siew Keong.

At the time, Guan Eng said that Mah was "useless" as a minister but DAP needed to field a candidate of ministerial quality for Teluk Intan. 

"We must field a candidate whom we DAP can nominate and appoint as a minister in a Harapan government," he had said.

Yesterday, Umno supreme council member Mahdzir Khalid said Guan Eng's announcement showed that PKR, Amanah and Bersatu were merely being used by DAP in the latter's quest for power.

He said Kit Siang and Guan Eng would use anyone to achieve their goals.

"Regardless of whether it is Anwar Ibrahim, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu or Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"DAP will use them for political power and Kit Siang has been doing so since 1965, in hope that DAP will be able to form the federal government one day," Mahdzir said, according to Berita Harian.

According to political observers, Guan Eng's announcement was a tactical move to prove that DAP was an equal partner with other Harapan parties, unlike BN, where Umno is dominant.