The DAP has questioned why there was no debate at the Umno General Assembly about Low Taek Jho, a young Umno-linked businessman who has donated US$25 million to the United Nations.

The party's secretary general Lim Guan Eng said instead, Umno was "manufacturing lies to foment" religious and racial hatred against non-Malays and non-Muslims.

"Stop manufacturing lies but focus instead on the economic distress suffered by Malaysians and debate how Low (also known as Jho Low) became so wealthy, until he can donate US$25 million to the United Nations," said in a statement today.

Lim, who is also the Penang chief minister, was referring to a Reuters report that Jho Low ( left ), a Hong Kong-based philanthropist, will be granting a US$25 million (RM83.7 million) to the the United Nations (UN). 

The gift is a 15-year investment which allows the UN to spin off its humanitarian news service Integrated Regional Information Networks (Irin) as an independent Swiss-based foundation.

"How come no questions were raised about how a wealthy Malaysian is not giving the same attention to do charity in his own country?" Lim asked.

"Is the loud silence by the Umno General Assembly related to impressions that Jho Low is untouchable due to his close links with top Umno personalities, as well as with the controversial 1Malaysia Development Fund?" He queried.

Poor's plight not discussed

Lim said no priority has been given to the plight of poor and middle-class Malaysians who are suffering the negative impact from the serial price hikes of sugar, petrol, motor insurance premiums and electricity tariffs.

At the same time, Malaysia is becoming a country of debtors with federal government debt increasing by more than 100 percent from RM266 billion at end 2007 to RM570 billion at mid June this year, he added.

The country's personal household debt is the second highest in Asia at 87 percent of GDP, making cost of living an increasingly serious problem for low-income groups, he stressed.

"Instead Umno has spread lies against the DAP and the Penang state government that DAP is buying land in Balik Pulau, Penang, no matter how expensive the cost to chase out the Malays," Lim lamented.

"This is a lie because DAP did not buy a single inch of land in Balik Pulau.

"DAP had only bought its office building at Rangoon Road in George Town," he added.

Accused of chasing out Malays

Lim was also upset that he and the DAP had been accused of trying to chase out the Malays by buying over their land to build expensive homes. 

In exchange, they alleged that the DAP government is building a settlement for the Malays on Seberang Prai in the mainland, which has caused the Malay population on the island to drop.

"The allegation that the Malay population in Penang has gone down from 41 percent to 40 percent in 2013 is untrue, as the Malay population in Penang has increased instead.

"Umno can check easily with the federal government’s Statistics Department," he added.

Lim also slammed former deputy minister Dr Mashitah Ibrahim ( right ) for her inflammatory claims that the Chinese community in Kuala Kedah had burned the Quran, page by page, during a prayer ritual.

Lim said the police had indicated that this was done by an individual, who had been sent for mental examination.

"This is a dangerous claim and should be fully investigated. If true, stern action should be taken against the wrongdoers.

"But if it is not true, then Dr Mashitah should be prosecuted in court for raising a false issue that can cause religious disharmony and racial discord," Lim said.

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