A leak purporting that Bersih, Merdeka Center and Malaysiakini are funded by US billionaire George Soros must be investigated, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Zahid said this is in regard to foreign involvement in national politics, and not about “who was funded” and “why”.

“There is no need for foreign involvement, let alone in terms of political funding, either to go against or to support any organisations or individuals," he is quoted as saying by Bernama.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of the book Being Abdullah Badawi in Kuala Lumpur today, the national news agency also quoted Zahid as saying the investigations must be conducted empirically, through observation and scientific experimentation.

However, he said a probe on the organisations involved will only be done if police reports are made.