KUALA LUMPUR: A non-Malay can become Prime Minister if the majority of Malays can accept it.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said although the Federal Constitution does not specify a Prime Minister from any race, the dynamics of race in Malaysia will determine the candidate for the post.
He said this occurred in Singapore when their Prime Minister was of Chinese descent, considering that the said race is the majority there.
"In Singapore, the Prime Minister has always been a Chinese majority since independence. Lee Kuan Yew admitted that non-Chinese leaders may face challenges in gaining acceptance among the predominantly Chinese population.
"So the Prime Minister of Singapore will always be Chinese. Penang has never had a non-Chinese Chief Minister.
"Given that the racial balance is in favor of non-Malays. However, when Umno has the most seats (State Legislative Assembly) under Barisan Nasional (BN), it gives way to Gerakan," he said in a statement on his Facebook today.
He was commenting on the statement by DAP stalwart Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang who said that the constitution does not prevent any non-Malay from becoming prime minister.
Kit Siang also admitted that it is impossible for non-Malays to become the Prime Minister of Malaysia, if one does not have the support of a large number of races in the country, especially the Malays.
Dr Mahathir said, in Malaysia, even though the Malays are divided politically, they still form the majority race.
"Until and unless the majority of Malays feel that they can accept a non-Malay as Prime Minister, that is the status quo," he added.