A special police task force has been formed to investigate claims that a local news portal has been receiving funds from a foreign businessman.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said, the five-member task force will be headed by Bukit Aman’s CID deputy director Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad, Bernama reported.

"The task force is currently investigating reports on the internet and from complainants.

"When we have done that, we will start calling in people for statements," The Star Online quoted Khalid as saying.

Billionaire George Soros is said to be the man at the centre of the claims, funding several local organisations through his Open Society Foundation (OSF) to allegedly influence the outcome of the upcoming general election.

READ: NGOs urge police, Bank Negara to probe foreign funding