Some thought it a joke that a Black man can be in the White House. But Barack Obama proved everyone wrong. So can an Iban, Kadazan,Kenyah, Dusun, Chinese, Indian, Orang Ulu, Orang Asli dan lain lain lagi be prime minister of Malaysia? Don't be silly, of course anyone can.

Yes, anyone can be PM in Malaysia, according to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"It is up to the people to decide, just as the Americans had done through the democratic process," he told reporters while extending his congratulations to U.S. President-elect the day after his unprecedented victory.

Even a non-Muslim can be PM, if we hear PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat correctly.

"It was a victory of sorts for Islam because Islam did not differentiate between race or creed," he said of Obama's victory.

"That is why Obama's victory is groundbreaking. It also proves there is no such thing as the superior race of the Caucasian. Everybody shares equality in Islam," he said.

So can anyone become Prime Malaysia? Yes. Like the United States, our Federal Constitution does not bar anyone from becoming a prime minister on grounds of race, religion or gender. All enjoy the privilege and right of aspiring for high office under the Malaysian sun.

As prime minister, the office bearer must uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and the Rukunnegara. In particular, the constitutional provisions regarding the special position of the Malay royalty, the Malays and the Malay language while ensuring that the rights and privileges of other races are also upheld.

But not anyone can be prime minister in Malaysia. Not just yet. Ever since independence in 1957, only a Malay can be a prime minister. More than that, he (never she) can only come from Umno, the dominant component party in the 14-party ruling Barisan Nasional coalition. This is because we follow the British parliamentary model where the leader of the party, in this case BN, who commands the majority in the lower house can be prime minister.

The way our electoral boundaries are drawn favours Umno and its minor partners. Even the tsunami unleashed during the 8 March general elections cannot dislodge it from its entrenched grip on power.

However, this does not stop others from trying to topple Umno and therefore the Barisan to become prime minister. Should this happen, then anyone other than an Umno lawmaker, can be a prime minister. But already the talk is that even in such an event, the prime minister must be a Malay and a Muslim.

For 200 years, the head of state in the United States has always been a White man (never a woman) until Barack Hussein Obama had the audacity the change all that. That's amazing given that it was not too long ago that people like Obama was not even allowed to vote let alone become President of the most powerful nation on this planet. We are only 51 years old. Maybe change will take it little while to come. But it will come. But we need to start getting used to the idea first. (By BOB TEOH/ MySinchew)