Hence, the link between Malaysiakini’s co-founder Premesh Chandran and the Open Society Foundations (OSF), owned by American business magnate George Soros, cannot be ignored, they added.

“Informing the public of current affairs comes with the commitment to be fair and disciplined with the facts available,” said Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun.

“With this, we should not take lightly the allegations surrounding Premesh at the moment.

“These allegations, if proven true, concern our sovereignty and the prospect of foreign intervention in Malaysia’s domestic affairs.”

Khairul was responding to the question of why there was a need to investigate Premesh who, according to a document leaked by DC Leaks, is allegedly the chairman of OSF’s Malaysia Advisory Committee.

“We must allow police to complete their investigation. If Premesh is found guilty, then action must be taken,” he told FMT.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan said it was not just about the amount of funding Malaysiakini received from the foundation.

Instead, it was about the reason behind the portal accepting the funding from Soros, who was known for his tendency to interfere and influence the administrations of certain countries.

“The issue here is how Malaysiakini can accept funding from an organisation which the international community has proven is funding elements within certain countries to destabilise the democratically-elected government of the day.”

Malaysiakini has reported Premesh as denying the allegation, although the portal admitted receiving funding and investments from certain Soros-linked entities.