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.

"Let them (leaders calling for action) lodge the police report first. We will act on it. We are not subject to speculation or mere suggestion," Zahid added.

His comments come after DC leaks released a document, supposedly the minutes on Soros' Open Society Foundation (OSF), which alleged that the business magnate had personal interest in Malaysian elections.

Malaysiakini and its video arm KiniTV are mentioned as recipients of OSF funds through a “Malaysia Programme”.

Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran clarified that the grant for KiniTV was used to produce programmes related to Sarawak.

However, BN leaders are citing the leak as an example of proof that outsiders were out to topple the government.

In Parliament today, Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) said the leaks were a “dangerous revelation”.

“It is quite clear that there is foreign meddling in national politics.

“I ask the government to probe this thoroughly. Such acts can be constituted as treason,” he told the House.

He also said this might be the reason the opposition were allegedly opposed to legislation on political funding, as it would have blocked their source of funding.