PLUS Highway Widening Approval Letter Is Fake

The fake PLUS highway widening approval letter is a forged document dated 17 July 2026 that fraudulently claims the Malaysian Cabinet approved a highway widening project for PLUS Malaysia Berhad under the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) — the official authority for verifying government communications — confirmed the document is fake on 17 September 2026. The letter affects Malaysian highway users and taxpayers by attempting to misrepresent national infrastructure approval processes. PLUS Malaysia Berhad operates the country's primary north-south expressway network, and PFI is a recognised Malaysian government procurement model used for infrastructure financing.

Key Facts

The key facts about the fake PLUS highway widening approval letter are presented below. The table lists the document type, the date appearing on the letter, the claimed project, the authority it falsely cites, and the verification status confirmed by the PMO. All facts derive from the Careta report published on 17 September 2026.

The PMO has explicitly confirmed that the PLUS widening approval letter is a forgery, and the table above summarises all verified facts from the Careta report.

Did the Malaysian Government Approve the PLUS Highway Widening Project?

The Malaysian government did not approve the PLUS highway widening project as claimed in the letter dated 17 July 2026. The PMO confirmed the document is fake and denied any connection to the approval described within it. The source material does not contain information about whether any legitimate approval for such a project currently exists.

The PMO stated unequivocally that the Prime Minister never issued or signed the letter in question. The denial was published on the official Facebook page of the Prime Minister and reported by Careta. The Jemaah Menteri (Cabinet) approval claimed in the letter was also refuted by the PMO.

"The Prime Minister never issued or signed the letter in question."
— Prime Minister's Office official statement, as reported by Careta, 17 September 2026

No Malaysian government approval for the PLUS highway widening project has been confirmed through the letter dated 17 July 2026.

How Did the Prime Minister's Office Confirm the Letter Was Fake?

The Prime Minister's Office issued an official statement on 17 September 2026, published on the official Facebook page of the Prime Minister, confirming that the letter dated 17 July 2026 is fake. The PMO explicitly declared that the Prime Minister never issued or signed the letter and denied any connection to the document or the approval claimed within it.

The PMO's advisory instructs the public not to be deceived by the document, not to spread it, and not to share it. Careta published the PMO's confirmation as a domestic news story, contributing to public awareness of the fraudulent document.

"The public is advised not to be deceived, spread, or share the fake document."
— PMO advisory, as reported by Careta, 17 September 2026

The PMO publicly confirmed the PLUS widening letter is fake and warned the public against sharing it.

What Legal Action Was Taken Over the Fake PLUS Widening Letter?

The PMO filed a police report concerning the forgery of the document, the misuse of the Prime Minister's name, and the misuse of the official identity of the Prime Minister's Office. The PMO stated that appropriate legal action will be taken against any party found to be involved in the forgery or distribution of the fake letter.

This legal action falls under Malaysian law concerning document forgery and the unauthorised use of official government identities. The PMO's proactive reporting demonstrates the seriousness with which Malaysian authorities treat counterfeit government documents.

The PMO has filed a police report and will pursue legal action against those responsible for the fake PLUS widening letter.

Who Needs to Be Aware of This Fake Document in Malaysia?

All Malaysian citizens, particularly users of the PLUS expressway network, social media consumers, and anyone who encounters government-related documents online, need to be aware of this fake letter. The PMO's advisory applies to the entire Malaysian public: do not be deceived by the document, do not spread it, and do not share it.

PLUS Malaysia Berhad is a central part of Malaysian transport infrastructure. Careta reported on 20 May 2026 that more than 2 million vehicles were expected to use the PLUS network during peak travel periods, underscoring the highway's importance. This makes the fake widening letter particularly relevant to Malaysians who rely on the PLUS expressway for daily commuting and long-distance travel.

Every Malaysian who uses the PLUS highway or consumes government-related news online should treat the fake widening letter as a known case of misinformation.

Common Questions

The following three questions address the most common concerns that Malaysian users may raise about the fake PLUS highway widening approval letter, based on the Careta report of 17 September 2026 and the PMO's official statement.

Three key questions explain the authenticity, the PMO advisory, and the legal consequences of the fake PLUS widening approval letter.

Is the PLUS highway widening approval letter real or fake?

The PMO confirmed on 17 September 2026 that the letter dated 17 July 2026 is fake. The Prime Minister never issued or signed it, and the PMO denied any connection to the document or the approval claimed within it.

What should I do if I receive the fake PLUS widening letter?

Do not be deceived, do not spread, and do not share the document. The PMO advises the public to avoid circulating the fake letter and to rely on official government sources for accurate information about infrastructure projects.

What legal consequences exist for sharing the fake PLUS letter?

The PMO has filed a police report for document forgery and misuse of the Prime Minister's name. Legal action will be taken against any party found involved in the forgery or distribution of the fake letter.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Careta report titled "Surat Kelulusan Projek Pelebaran Lebuhraya PLUS Adalah Palsu" by Qalif Latif, published on 17 September 2026, available at https://careta.my/article/surat-kelulusan-projek-pelebaran-lebuhraya-plus-adalah-palsu. The Malay-language source was translated into English. No currency conversions were required because the source contains no monetary values. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against the PMO's statement as reported by Careta.

This article is sourced from the Careta report of 17 September 2026 and the official PMO statement, translated from Malay to English.

This article was last updated on 17 September 2026.