Umno information chief Annuar Musa claims that Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah has links to US intelligence bureau Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Maria, along with her late husband Yunus Lebai Ali, are linked to the CIA through her work in several NGOs back in the 1980s, such as National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI), he said.

According to NIEI's website, the institute started operations in 1999 but was only legally registered in 2007.

Annuar explained that NIEI was sponsored by the Asia Foundation, under The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and Asian Network for Free and Fair Elections (Anfrel).

Former CIA agent Philip Agee had previously revealed that Namfrel and Anfrel were CIA tools, he said.

"Clearly, she (Maria) is not an ordinary person, but someone whose background should be further examined," Annuar said in a Facebook post last night.

He also claimed that the CIA's modus operandi had been taken over by a new agency named National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

According to their websites, Namfrel, which is based in the Philippines, is a pioneer in election monitoring while Anfrel works on election observation, capacity-building and campaign and advocacy to promote democratic institutions.

Malaysiakini has contacted Namfrel and Anfrel for comment.

Annuar also pointed out that Maria was involved in human rights and feminist NGOs which are pro-LGBT, such as the Women's Development Collective (WDC), Empower and Sisters in Islam (SIS).

Maria was arrested under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act last Friday, a day before the Bersih 5 rally, for investigations under Section 124C of the Penal Code for attempting "activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy".

This comes after it was revealed that the electoral reform movement received funds from the George Soros-linked Open Society Foundations.

Maria is currently being held in Kuala Lumpur, in solitary confinement, for up to 28 days.

A habeas corpus application was filed yesterday to secure her release, and the hearing is slated for case management tomorrow.

A vigil is being held every night at Dataran Merdeka until Maria is released.