KUALA LUMPUR: Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has denied any association with an investment scheme circulating on social media.
The scheme, which used Tengku Zafrul's image to promote purported stock recommendations, has gained traction online.
He emphasised his non-involvement in the scheme, stating, "If anyone receives a message allegedly from me recommending stocks, please ignore and report it to the authority."
"How can I be giving advise on stocks when my hands are already full in my current capacity as minister."
While some commenters thanked the minister for the clarification, others tried to link it with the current Central Database Hub (Padu) registration exercise.
One of them, identified as Halily Rahim said,"This must be the data obtained from Padu,"
But Tengku Zafrul was quick to reply, saying it has nothing to do with the Padu system.
"Nothing to do with Padu. If right now you are to change your name from Halily to Zafrul, you can do so. Add my face as profile...there, you are now scammer Tengku Zafrul," he said.
Other commenters like Lishalinee Pinkygirl Soosay said she too received similar message, but from a so-called Tengku Mahkota Johor.
"End up, I contacted TMJ to inform him that someone had misuse his name and picture with new contact,"
The public is advised to report false advertisements and fraudulent online investments through Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)'s complaint portal at https://aduan.skmm.gov.my/Complaint/AddComplaint?NOSP=1