KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 29 -- DAP parliamentary leader Anthony Loke said his party remained vulnerable to rivals' allegations that it was an enemy of the Malay community as it lacked the grassroots network to dispel such claims.

Loke told Utusan Malaysia in an interview that opponents continue to falsely portray DAP as being against the Malays, which he said was insidious in rural areas.

"This is very effective as we do not have grassroots members in rural areas to counter this perception.

"So, eventually, this becomes the Malay perception of DAP," he was quoted as saying.

Loke reiterated that DAP was not racist or hostile in any way towards the Malay community, but this was how its rivals have successfully painted the party by using it a...