KUALA LUMPUR (July 22): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's name was misused by "certain parties" in a widely circulated e-mail to government-linked companies (GLCs) that had sown confusion among the people, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) clarified today.

"The prime minister has never issued letters in the form of e-mails to top-level management of government-linked companies asking for personal backing to his administration.

"The prime minister has also never backed any website that promotes the trading of bitcoin," it said in the statement.

The PMO's statement today was issued in response to an e-mail purportedly sent out by Dr Mahathir personally to GLCs asking for "fullest cooperation in the years ahead".

The e-mail, which bears the "PMO" letterhead, stated that GLC's support for Dr Mahathir's administration has not gone unnoticed and that the prime minister welcomes responses.

In its statement, the PMO stressed that any formal communication from the prime minister will only be issued from the PMO and not via Dr Mahathir's personal e-mail.

"These two incidents are now being reported to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for further actions.

"The PMO would like to advise parties involved to be responsible as the misuse of name and title of the prime minister in any correspondence and even on websites as this violates the law," the PMO cautioned.