Bersatu strategist Rais Hussin has dismissed as "fake news" a report alleging that Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad was set to lead an opposition delegation to meet American political leaders.

"This is another clear example of monumental fake news, tarnishing the image of Dr Mahathir and Pakatan Harapan," said Rais when contacted for comments on the reported allegations by former DAP vice-chairperson Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim.

"The statement from Tunku Aziz must be taken with a nuclear proportion pinch of salt than anything else.

"It is time for Tunku Aziz to really stop peddling fake news in support of the current regime just to further his own narrow self-serving interest," Rais told Malaysiakini.

English daily New Straits Times yesterday quoted Tunku Aziz as claiming that the delegation, allegedly scheduled to leave for the US on Feb 20, aimed to seek foreign help in toppling Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and seeking support in the event the opposition pact formed the government after the14th general election.

Aside from Mahathir, Tunku Abdul Aziz claimed that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was also supposed to be a member of the delegation.

'Check your facts'

Bernama, meanwhile, today quoted Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein as saying that the purported plan demonstrated Mahathir's hypocrisy, as the former premier had spoken up against opposition political parties indulging in such a move during his time in power.

In response to Hishammuddin, Rais said that the Umno vice-president should first check his facts before commenting on any issue.

"As for the defence minister, he needs to check the facts rather than responding to fake news, particularly when it comes from a senile old man," said Rais, who rubbished Tunku Aziz's claims as an attempt to tarnish Harapan's image.

"As far as Harapan is concerned, this is another attempt to create a negative perception against us.

"We believe this kind of fake news will also continue ahead of GE14," he stressed.

Putrajaya had recently formed a special committee to formulate laws to tackle fake news as it claimed the phenomenon would disrupt political stability and threaten public order and national security.

Mahathir himself is currently receiving treatment at the National Heart Institute for a chest infection and is expected to be in recovery for the next few days.