Energy, Water and Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik, 67, was happy to announce he was still alive after rumours of his death were circulated by SMS text messages.

He told the state Bernama news agency he had been jolted out of bed by the news via SMS of his own death.

"My goodness. It seems that so many people wish I was dead," Lim, who also heads the Gerakan party in the ruling coalition, was quoted as saying.

"The SMS said I have passed away. Calls are coming in non-stop from my friends, politicians, party members inquiring about it. Some called my aide to inquire about me, if it was true that I have passed away," he said.

"I am still very much alive, thank you," Lim added.

The minister said he had discovered his reported death was a case of mistaken identity with that of prominent businessman Lim Yoke Cheng, who died on Saturday night.

Lim Yoke Cheng once controlled chicken franchise company KFC Malaysia and was known as "Chicken King", Bernama said.

"They had mistaken me with Tan Sri Lim Yoke Cheng. Maybe since in Chinese, both our names are almost similar. I guess because of that somebody wrongly sent out the message," said Lim.

Mistake by media organisation

The minister, known for his feistiness, said the rumour might have taken hold since he had not turned up at a military airport to greet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who returned Saturday night from a holiday in Australia.

"Maybe because they didn't see me at the Subang Air Force Base to welcome the Prime Minister home, they believed I was dead," he said.

Lim's press secretary said the SMS was sent out by a media organisation, which translated Lim Yoke Cheng in Mandarin to Lim Keng Yaik in English.