The Philippines' National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has issued a challenge to Umno information chief Annuar Musa, over his claims that the electoral group is linked to the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

"If Mr Annuar really believes that we are CIA-backed, Namfrel is inviting him to visit our office in Manila and bring with him whoever he wants to go through our records.

"Namfrel is waiving its rights on the Bank Secrecy Law so he can see our finances, from the time we were established as an organisation.

"Is this fair enough? He is welcome anytime," Namfrel national council board member Dammy Magbual said in an email to Malaysiakini last night.

Annuar had previously cited Namfrel and another electoral group Asia Network for Free Elections (Anfrel) in a bid to link Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah to the CIA.

He claimed a former CIA agent had said that both Namfrel and Anfrel were "CIA tools", and thus Maria has links with the intelligence agency through her work with the electoral groups.

He had also said that she is "no ordinary person" and her background warranted further investigation.

The two electoral groups had responded to his claims, strongly denying they were CIA-backed.

Anfrel executive director Ichal Supriadi said that defaming and suppressing dissidents is the most common and oldest dirty tactic employed by any ruling power.

He also invited Annuar to their office in Bangkok to view its operations so he can see that the NGO operates in an independent manner.

Meanwhile Dammy said that the CIA allegations against Namfrel had been debunked in several published books.

He also said that the allegations were first made by the Ferdinand Marcos camp during the 1986 Phillippine election.

Maria was arrested last Friday, on the eve of the Nov 19 Bersih 5 rally, for documents found in a raid at the Bersih office in Petaling Jaya.

She is held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, which allows detention without trial for up to 28 days.

According to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), she is held in solitary confinement in a windowless cell and provided with only cold water and a wooden bed without a mattress.

Maria has filed a habeas corpus application challenging the detention, which will be heard next week.