INTERVIEW As a self-proclaimed reluctant politician, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) strategist Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff does not like to engage in the usual mud-slinging against political opponents - a strategy often relied on by politicians.

But one thing that Rais cannot accept is when his party and its leaders are relentlessly attacked.

He particularly took issue after a report in an English daily quoted PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's political secretary, Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, as saying that Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad had turned to the DAP after he was purportedly spurned by PAS.

"(Now) it's time for us to share some things, too, so that the people would know what PAS really is," said Rais who heads Bersatu's strategy and policy bureau.

Addressing the meetings held between Bersatu and PAS representatives, Rais cited a meeting of four people last year at which he was present, together with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, Hadi and former PAS election director Mustafa Ali...