Lim Kit Siang is keeping true to his promise of taking legal action against former inspector-general of police Mohammed Hanif Omar, after the latter failed to prove his claim DAP had once called for Peninsular Malaysia to be divided between the Malays and Chinese.

In a statement today, DAP national legal bureau chairperson Ramkarpal Singh confirmed receiving instructions from Lim to commence with the necessary legal proceedings.

"I wish to confirm having received instructions from Lim to commence legal proceedings against Hanif in light of the latter’s failure to explain and prove his outrageous claim that the DAP had, amongst others, wanted Malaysia to be split into two, the West Coast for the Chinese and the East Coast for the Malays, following the 1969 riots.

"Hanif’s further claim that he had put Lim behind bars as a result, is a clear insinuation on his part that Lim was responsible for such a demand, and apart from being highly defamatory, is also possibly seditious.

"Hanif has not responded or denied making the said statement, despite Lim’s ultimatum for him to do so within 48 hours, which ended at 12.30pm today," the statement read.

On Friday, Lim said Hanif's claim was a "cock and bull" story and demanded an apology from the ex-top cop.

Hanif's comment, which was reported by Sinar Harian, was reportedly made at an event in Universiti Teknologi Mara the day before.

"At that time, the Alliance formed BN because the country was on the brink of destruction. DAP suggested that Peninsular Malaysia is split into two, East Coast for the Malays and the West Coast for the Chinese.

"What was my answer? I put Lim Kit Siang in prison.

"He was in (detention) for two years. That was Hanif's way when I was the IGP," he was quoted as saying.

According to Ramkarpal, legal action will commence with a letter of demand to be issued to Hanif on Wednesday, after the public holidays.

He said the letter will ask Hanif to apologise and retract his statement and to propose a sum in damages to be agreed upon within 14 days.

If the former IGP does not comply, he added, then legal proceedings for defamation will be initiated.