This was the reason behind Umno minister Salleh Said Keruak questioning the absence of DAP leaders at the head of the PH line-up, said Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the PPBM Youth chief.

“Salleh said the structure downgraded DAP but he previously claimed PH was dominated by DAP. If there are others in Umno who still claim PH is dominated by the Chinese-based DAP, it would mean they are not very bright,” he said at a media conference at PPBM headquarters here today.

PH announced last night that jailed PKR de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim had been appointed as de facto leader while his former mentor-nemesis-comrade Dr Mahathir Mohamad would be chairman.

Anwar’s wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was named president. She is assisted by three deputies — Muhyiddin Yassin (PPBM president), Lim Guan Eng (DAP secretary-general) and Mohamad Sabu (Amanah president).

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and his PPBM counterpart Mukhriz Mahathir were made vice-presidents, along with DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen and Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub.

Former deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah is the chief secretary.

Salleh, the minister of communications and multimedia, wrote in his blog today that PH had marginalised DAP although the party had the most number of MPs in the opposition.

Syed Saddiq also corrected reports that the son of Johor menteri besar, Akmal Saufi Mohamed, had joined PPBM.

“He (Akmal) is still in Umno,” he said in correcting a statement by Johor DAP on Monday.

Akmal himself denied the claim and instructed his lawyer to demand that Johor DAP withdraw the statement and make an open apology.