Cops confirm Kit Siang under probe over 'non-Malay' PM comments

Police have confirmed they are investigating DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang over his comments about the possibility of a non-Malay being appointed as the prime minister.

Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (investigation and legal) Rusdi Mohd Isa said Bukit Aman’s Classified Crime Investigation Unit will take the DAP adviser's statement tomorrow.

The investigation is being carried out under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code, he added.

"The case is still under investigation and the public is advised not to make any speculations that could interfere with the process.

"We remind the public to always be attentive to sensitive issues and not to issue any statements that may affect public order and national harmony," Rusdi said in a statement today.

Statement of fact

Rusdi said the investigation was related to Lim’s Nov 30 blog post titled “Malaysia Constitution provides for a Malaysia Dream and not a mono-ethnic dream as it provides that a non-Malay can be a prime minister”.

Lim (above) made similar remarks in his speech to Malaysian students in the United Kingdom.

He spoke of the possibility of a non-Malay prime minister in Malaysia when commenting on how Barack Obama, who is African-American, could become the president of the United States after more than 230 years of the founding of the country.

Lim, however, said for a non-Malay to become the prime minister is a "statement of fact", not a "statement of reality" and he did not expect it to happen within the next 100 years.

According to Lim, his statement was also supported by the fact that the Federal Constitution provides that non-Malays can become prime minister.

Under the Federal Constitution, the only requirement for someone to be prime minister, as per Article 43(2)(a), is that the premier be an MP, who, in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's judgement, has majority support.

There are no other criteria attached for an appointment to the top executive post.

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