KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 ― An Umno leader has urged Malaysians to oppose alleged foreign interference in the country by following the example of Donald Trump’s supporters who protested against billionaire George Soros that they claimed funded civil unrest.

Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said Malaysians must pay serious attention to allegations that the philanthropist is trying to topple the United States president-elect Trump through his Open Society Foundations (OSF).

“In the US, the revelation of Soros’ involvement could become a hot topic and caused Trump supporters like Reddit Subgroup to rise in anger and hold counter-protest in front of Soros’ office in Manhattan.

“Therefore it is also sensible that Malaysians must also oppose this foreign interference in Malaysia,” the Umno Supreme Council member said in a statement.

Contrary to Puad’s claim, “Reddit Subgroup” is not a name of a group, but refers to a sub-section in social news aggregation website Reddit.

Puad said the modus operandi used by Soros and OSF in the US by sponsoring protesters “sow tensions and break the laws” is similar to his purported plan for Malaysia.

“The same modus operandi is used in Malaysia where OSF sponsored several groups including Bersih, Malaysiakini, Merdeka Center and the Bar Council,” he claimed.

“Ever since Bersih 1, several by-elections were held and some won by the Opposition, but Bersih continues to go on. Actually their goal is similar as in the US to manufacture hate and then the current government can easier be toppled through Soros’ help.”

Puad’s remark came after American daily USA Today reported on Friday that Trump supporters are now targeting Soros whom they accused had funded civil unrest following the presidential election.

But USA Today also reported OSF saying that claims it is paying anti-Trump protesters is a fiction, although there is a chance that the groups it supports may have been involved in the protests.

Puad also defended the police’s decision to detain polls watchdog Bersih 2.0’s chair Maria Chin Abdullah using Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), supposedly in order to combat OSF’s attempt to topple the country.

Late last month, Malaysian media reported leaked minutes from OSF’s “Malaysia Programme”, alleging the group had given funds to a number of local organisations.