Those who use names of any ministers for publicity without permission from the ministries involved can be subjected to the law, Tourism, Culture and Arts Minister Mohammadin Ketapi said today.

"Organising an event by using the name of a minister to publicise it is wrong, and those who misuse the name of the minister can be apprehended by the law," he warned.

Mohammadin was responding to a report in The Star, in which the Asia Pacific Tourism and Travel Federation said it had obtained the minister's support for the APTTF Annual Awards 2019, and that he would also be in attendance.

Describing the claim as a lie, he said he did not receive any invitation from the federation.

"If we accept or reject an invitation, my office would respond to the organisers in writing," he said.

"I would ask my officers from the ministry to represent me (in case I cannot make it). It is not as reported, that is a lie."

Mohammadin was on a working visit to George Town to attend the launch of the Royal Caribbean International's new ship Spectrum of The Seas, where he was accompanied by US ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Lakhdir.

He added that APTTF has also allegedly committed an offence by using the Tourism Malaysia logo without permission.

"They have committed two offences, and action will be taken," he said.