Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian has denied issuing a circular forcing non-Malay local councillors to attend an "official letter-writing workshop" today, which had been going viral on social media.

The circular, dated Sept 26, was purported to have been sent following the rebuke by Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar after a local councillor was alleged to have sent an official letter in Chinese and English.

"It's false," Osman told Malaysiakini yesterday when contacted over the veracity of the circular.

"After the second phase of the selection of local councillors next week, we will have a two-day leadership seminar for all local councillors in the middle of next month," he said.

When asked if the planned seminar would include a workshop on improving the use of Bahasa Malaysia, the menteri besar replied in the affirmative.

The circular states that it is compulsory for non-Malay councillors to attend the workshop, purportedly to have been held this morning at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) office in Johor Bahru.

"The attendance of all non-Malay local councillors is COMPULSORY WITHOUT FAIL. Together, let's avoid the wrath of High Highness the Sultan as such things are very embarrassing for us as the ruling (state) government.

"The administration will not hesitate to strip any councillor of his/her position in the event of non-compliance with any laws pertaining to the Federal Constitution," the circular read.

On Tuesday, the Johor ruler gave a councillor for Zon 8 Taman Bukit Indah, Chan Wei Khjan, a public dressing-down after the latter issued a letter inviting residents to a dialogue, which was written in Chinese and used the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) letterhead.

Chan had apologised over the matter and clarified that the letter had been written in Bahasa Malaysia but that a Chinese and English version has been included as attachments.

The councillor then accused former Johor menteri besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who first raised the issue, of trying to mislead the public by only highlighting the Chinese and English attachments and not the Bahasa Malaysia one.

However, the sultan said any official letters involving state government or local authorities must use the national language and had never been multilingual.

“If the councillor does not know how to do his or her job, just resign. This is my warning… do not make this mistake again," Sultan Ibrahim said in a statement on his Facebook page.