Malaysia’s Implementation Coordination Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department (ICU JPM) said it had not issued a letter bearing its official letterhead and the purported signature of its director-general. The unit said the signature had been forged and used without permission.
The department warned that misuse of the Federal Coat of Arms, official letterhead and the director’s signature could mislead the public and damage its credibility. Section 3 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 prohibits using the federal emblem, or an imitation, for trade, business, employment or a profession without written ministerial approval.
Upon conviction, Section 5 provides for a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both. Forging documents or signatures with intent to deceive may also fall under Section 468 of the Penal Code, which carries up to seven years in prison and a fine.
ICU JPM urged the public not to trust or circulate the letter or act on its contents. It advised verifying documents issued in its name through official channels.