The Penang government's public policy think tank, Penang Institute, today declined to comment on claims by whistleblower site DC Leaks that it has been receiving funds from billionaire George Soros.

Penang Institute Executive Director Zairil Khir Johari said he was not aware of the allegation and he preferred not to comment without having the fact of the matter at his disposal.

"Since this is the first time such an allegation had arisen and I am not aware of it, so we prefer not to comment without knowing the facts," he told Bernama when contacted here today.

However, Zairil who is also the DAP lawmaker, said if necessary the institute will hold a meeting to discuss the matter and issue an official statement.

Recently, DC Leak had alleged that the Open Society Foundations (OSF) that belonged to Soros had given funds to a number of local organisations including Bersih, C4 Malaysia, Pusat Kesedaran Komuniti (Empower), Islamic Renaissance Front, Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, Penang Institute, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), Citizen Journalists Malaysia (Sabah) and the Committee For Free Elections (Comfrel).

It was alleged that OSF was also attempting to influence the country’s next election in 2018 through programmes such as voter mobilisation drives.

Meanwhile, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy said the allegation was baseless as the Penang Institute is solely funded by the Penang government.

He said all this leak came out with the political agenda and there is no rational on the information that links Penang Institute with Soros.

"I don't think Penang Institute has received any outside funds, particularly from Soros, and this is a baseless allegation with political motive," he said.

Earlier, it was reported that Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak had said that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission was investigating complaints on the alleged channeling of foreign funds to certain news portals with intention to overthrow the democratically elected government of Malaysia. -- BERNAMA