UMNO President = PM Msia

"“Remember, we are not just changing the (Umno) president, we are changing the prime minister. Other parties can change their president tomorrow, they can tell their president to go today; not Umno," she told reporters after five-hour meeting with Wanita leaders yesterday."

Datin Seri Rafidah Aziz

Is she right in saying this? I think Rafidah should take a step back and tell herself that being UMNO President does not equate to having one becoming the Prime Minister of Malaysia. It was never written in the Federal Consitution that an UMNO President automatically becomes Prime Minister of Malaysia. However the Constitution does say that to be the Prime Minister, one should be able to command the majority of Parliment.

So since UMNO being the single most dominant party and head of Barisan Nasional (BN), theoratically being President of UMNO indirectly makes him Prime Minister of Malaysia.

However this may not be true anymore. A recent case can be seen in Terengganu where Idris Jusoh was passed over by the Sultan despite him having the majority support of the State Assembly.

Plus, with Pak Lah's shaky position in UMNO itself and Opposition's hold on 82 seats in Parliment, it just take some no confidence votes from his own camp mixed together with Opposition members votes, sending Pak Lah into an awkward situation never seen before in this country. Thus putting into doubt his ability to command a majority in Parliment.

So Rafidah, please dont oversimplify the situation. Things are not as clear as it is anymore after the General Election. And nothing is engraved in stone.