What appears to be an online campaign targetted at The Edge media group owner Tong Kooi Ong has turned into open warfare.

Today Tong decried a new posting on the Internet containing a phone chat log that he said was "fake".

He was referring to a Feb 1 posting on the blog malaysianexpose.wordpress.com of a phone chat log purpoted to show that Tong was trying to manipute former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to drive down the ringgit.

"Anyone who knows me will confirm that many of the words used, such as "Friendlies" and "Jugular" are not part of my vocabulary," he said in statement.

Tong said it was easy for the authorities to track the phone logs, and invited them to probe the matter.

"As for the fake phone chat log, I invite the relevant authorities to investigate.

"I suspect such records can be obtained from the telecommunication company for verification," said the media tycoon.

Who is behind the smear campaign?

Tong also hinted at knowing who is behind the attack, by naming two other blogs said to be manned by the individual he only refers to as "the person".

Both the blogs have attacked Mahathir.

"Mahathir deserves a lot ore credit and respect than that..

"It shows how fearful this person, and whoever that is behind him, is of the criticisms and issues our former PM has raised in recent times, and the reporting of The Edge Media Group."

He also reiterated that he is not using The Edge to paint Malaysia in a bad light to benefit from the weakening ringgit.

"Our views and reporting are done in the open. We do not hide behind blogs who do not reveal themselves," he said.

Besides the blog malaysianexpose, there are several Facebook pages set up in what appears to be an anti-Tong campaign.

The blog as well as the Facebook pages appear prominently on Malaysian timelines.

The items are marked by the social media site as "promoted" content indicating that Facebook was paid to push out the content.