Lim Kit Siang has accused Umno and BN leaders, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, of initiating the most ambitious "black ops" to date in order to destroy DAP.

He claimed that these leaders and their propagandists are employing the “triple politics of fear, hate and lies, involving ministers and even the prime minister himself.”

Lim said this in reference to Najib's statement on Twitter last Saturday declaring that the DAP veteran was the de facto opposition leader and Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's attack on him.

"It was all part of the 'black ops' campaign to create panic and fear among the Malays, seeking to make them believe that if Umno loses, I will become the prime minister of Malaysia and that I am anti-Malay and anti-Islam," he added.

Lim claimed that the mainstream media controlled by Umno and BN had in the past week also participated in the alleged "black ops" against DAP.

He added that they have also exploited the resignation of four Malacca DAP elected representatives from the party.

The four are Kota Melaka MP Sim Tong Him, Duyong assemblyperson Goh Leong San, Bachang assemblyperson Lim Jak Wong and Kesidang assemblyperson Chin Choong Seong.

"The masterminds of the 'Black Ops' are trying to orchestrate an implosion of DAP, hoping to get more DAP leaders, members and branches to quit the party," claimed Lim.

However, he said the "politics of fear, hatred and lies" against the DAP would not succeed in destroying the party.

"As is very clear during my visit to various parts of Malacca yesterday, the people are disappointed at the defection of one MP and three assemblymen in Malacca, but their support for DAP remains as strong as ever.

"They know that DAP has not betrayed the party’s founding principles and objectives for an united, just, equal, democratic, prosperous and progressive Malaysia," he added.