DAP Youth has criticised its PKR counterpart for challenging Umno to amend the constitution to ensure that only a Malay can be prime minister.

NONE The wing’s leader Anthony Loke said the challenge by PKR Youth Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin was “racist” in nature and it will jeopardise Pakatan Rakyat’s efforts to wrest Putrajaya from BN.

"I'm shock with the racist remark made by Shamsul because his youth wing has always been promoting the multiracial principle of PKR.

“The reckless and racist remark will dampen PKR's years of commitment and contribution to end racism in this country," said Loke, in a statement issued yesterday.

He said Shamsul’s speech would be picked on by BN component parties who will then accuse PKR of being a racist party.

Loke said Shamsul’s remark would bring Malaysia backwards and become an obstacle towards attempts to democratise the country.

"Under this political reality, perhaps the time for a non-Malay to become prime minister is not ripe, but there is no reason to amend the constitution to allow only Malay to be the premier.

“This is a regressive and we are completely against his stand," he added.

However, Loke stressed that Shamsul's remark does not represent the collective stand of Pakatan which follows the principle of meritocracy.

The fact that state governments ruled by Pakatan had appointed Chinese and Indian as speakers in the state assemblies speaks for itself, he said.

Shamsul’s dare to Umno

"In addition, Pakatan has stated that it will comply to the current constitution should it capture the federal government. Shamsul's remark has gone against the previous consensus reached by Pakatan, " Loke added.

NONE In his policy speech made yesterday during PKR congress, Shamsul challenged Umno to make the change to the constitution to prove that it is the champion of the Malays.

According to the Youth chief, making the PM's post available only to Malays only "is fair, not just to Malays but to all Malaysians" as "demographics show that it does not make sense for a non-Malay to be the PM".

However, Shamsul also said PKR Youth was "comfortable" with the current provisions under the Federal Constitution.

"We issued this challenge to Umno in order for them to prove that they are really champions of the Malays," he said.