Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that controversial billionaire Jho Low has never applied to the National Registration Department (JPN) to have his name changed to Eric Tan Kim Loong.

This is despite a Singapore court, which heard that the 1MDB linked cases involved former bankers, establishing that Low (photo) had used the name to open bank accounts and corporate entities in the city-state.

In a parliamentary reply dated Nov 2, Zahid said; "Based on JPN's record, an individual named Low Taek Jho was issued a birth certificate and MyKad because he was born here.

"A further check showed that there was no application for his name to be changed to Tan Kim Loong or Eric Tan Kim Loong." 

Kamaruddin Jaffar (PKR-Tumpat) had asked if the JPN or Immigration Department had issued any document which stated Low changed his name.

Zahid further confirmed that Low was issued an international passport. 

Low is said to use the name "Eric Tan" on some occasions for "security" purposes.

The name "Eric Tan," which has cropped up repeatedly as the stated owner of several companies to which 1MDB funds were allegedly diverted, has been a mystery from the onset.

The Singapore case established that four Falcon Private Bank accounts were held by companies controlled by Low using the alias "Eric Tan Kim Loong," and that Falcon Private Bank Singapore branch manager Jens Sturzeneggar had tried to conceal this fact.