Umno's insistence on playing up racial allegations against DAP is an attempt to divert attention from its own failure to address public concerns over state-investor 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation scandal, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Speaking to reporters after launching the DAP Impian Malaysia truck in Subang Jaya today, Lim stressed that the party's membership is open to all Malaysians and that it has also recorded a growing number of new Malay members.

"They (Umno) are trying to racialise the issue so that they don't have to explain about 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion scandal," noted Lim in response to Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak's comments on DAP's Chinese image.

Salleh ( photo ) - in a blog posting yesterday - had said that DAP's efforts to field more Malay candidates does not change the fact that it is a Chinese-based party.

"We don't deny that, but we are getting more Malay members to join in. It's a process that we have to go through," stressed Lim.

On alleged resistance from its older members with regard to plans to recruit more Malay members, he said it is "normal" for the members to air their concerns.

"They expressed their concern and that's normal. But they have also agreed to support the plan.

"Our retreat has proven that to be true. They have endorsed party's stand to be more open and we continue the effort to recruit more Malay members and counter the poison by BN and Umno," he said.

BN threatened by Impian Malaysia

Earlier in his speech, Lim noted that the DAP through its Impian Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan initiatives had successfully carried out development projects allegedly neglected by the federal government.

"I believe that if Pakatan Harapan can form the federal government, we will be able to do a lot more.

"Even as an opposition party, the DAP can raise funds to build houses, provide clean water and electricity. The BN felt threatened and so they make all kinds of allegations against us," he said.

The DAP Impian Malaysia truck will be featured as a key part of the party's ongoing campaign to empower marginalised rural communities, traditionally seen as vote banks for Umno-BN.