DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang thanked Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak for admitting that Umno and Barisan Nasional could lose the federal government in the forthcoming election.

"I thank Salleh for his candour in admitting that Malaysians are now on the cusp of major political changes, with the possible defeat of Umno/BN and the formation of a Pakatan Harapan federal government in the forthcoming 14th general election," Lim said in a statement today.

This, he claimed, was based on three factors, with Umno having purportedly lost the support of the majority of Malays being one of them.

Umno was also losing the support of most of the 1.6 million civil servants in the country, he added, and has the highest percentage of members in the party's history who are likely to vote against its president Najib Abdul Razak and Umno in the general election.

Yesterday, Salleh (photo) appeared to have concurred with DAP's assessment on how Pakatan Harapan can win the next general election.

"As what was said by DAP leaders, a 10 to 15 percent swing of Malay votes will allow them (Harapan) to control Putrajaya," Salleh had said.

As such, Salleh reminded Malay voters to take note of DAP's assessment if they want to avoid that party from taking over the country.

However, Lim once again refuted claims that DAP was anti-Malay and anti-Islam, adding that the late former PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and former presidents Fadzil Noor and Yusof Rawa would have testified to this.

"All the accusations were downright lies and slander.

"Furthermore, DAP leaders do not indulge in lies, fake news and false information and we have evidence aplenty against Umno/BN leaders," the Gelang Patah MP said.

Lim added that it was regrettable that Salleh had not been able to wean himself completely from the "divisive Umno politics of race".

"He has crafted a new bogey with a new narrative about the Umno politics of race to hold the Malays to ransom – that DAP and the Chinese will capture political power from the Malays if Umno loses political power."

For one, Lim stressed, DAP was not a Chinese political party, but one "for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region".

He added that several factors would ensure that Malays will not lose political power, even if Umno is defeated, citing the country's demographics and Malay majority seats.