A businessman has declared he is alive after hundreds of posters were circulated across Malaysia to announce prayers for his death.

Arumugam Vellayan said he heard about the posters - which were put up on shop walls and around markets in Kuala Lumpur, and sent to relatives in two other Malaysian states - after receiving phone calls during the week to check on him.

"My phone has been ringing non-stop with friends calling to find out if I am still alive. It has distressed by family," Arumugam was quoted as saying in The Star daily.

"I want everyone to know that I'm still alive," he added.

Arumugam received 460 of the posters in the mail on Friday which were addressed to his business contacts, and which were sent from one of his own businesses, according to reports.

Business rivalry?

They were marked "return to sender" because of insufficient postage.

Reports showed Arumugam posing with one of the anonymously circulated posters, which shows a photo of him with his eyes closed and invites people for special prayers for his soul on Sunday evening.

"All friends are invited to attend the prayers," it reads.

Arumugam, who owns two restaurants and also heads a newspaper vendors' association, said he feared for his life and his family's.

"I take this as a death threat," said Arumugam. "I don't know who did this, I suspect it might be business rivalry."