Kini founder/CEO should explain why leaked document named him as OSF advisory chairperson

PETALING JAYA: Malaysiakini co-founder Premesh Chandran (pic) should explain why his name was listed on a DC leaks article alleging he had an Open Society Foundations (OSF) advisory chairperson role, says Captain Abdul Rahmat Omar Tun Mohd Haniff.

The former Royal Malaysian Air Force officer said that instead of denying it, Premesh should instead explain why his name was listed on the document in the first place.

“Premesh should explain why OSF internal documents listed his name as the chairman of the advisory board for Malaysia.

“It was not me who listed it in those documents. It was from OSF's own documents,” he said.

Abdul Rahmat was referring to a police report he had lodged on Thursday over a DC leaks document alleging that billionaire George Soros' OSF had been channelling funds to local organisations.

Abdul Rahmat said he had previously asked the police, in the “name of fairness for all” to thoroughly investigate the authenticity of the DC Leaks article.

“Therefore there is no need for Premesh Chandran to do an outright denial and let the police investigate,” he said, adding that Soros was known to have indirect links to 29 percent ownership of MalaysiaKini.

On Thursday, Premesh had denied that he had an Open Society Foundations (OSF) advisory chairperson role.

"I have not seen this document before, nor was I part of any discussions on 'shared frameworks', nor was I the chair of any committee related to OSF," he was quoted by Malaysiakini as having said.

On its website, Malaysiakini admitted receiving funding and investments from certain Soros-linked entities. One of their current large shareholder and board member is Harlan Mandel, who previously served as the Deputy General Counsel for Soros' foundation.