Kuala Lumpur, Malasya - Umno’s stand on unity talks with the Islamist opposition party PAS is to fulfill religious rather than political demands, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister laughed off PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s recent statement saying that the notion of a unity government with Umno was a closed chapter.
“I don’t know what is his aim but Umno’s stand is clear. If it is good for the ummah (the Muslim community), we are willing to have such talks. It does not mean that we are tied to any agreement.
“We want to find something good. What is good is a religious requirement. Umno wants to do something not based on political demands but on religious demands,” he told reporters after the opening of the pasar tani (wet market) convention at Putra World Trade Centre here on Monday.
“I don’t know what PAS’ real intention is. You have to ask them for an explanation,” he added.
He was asked to comment on Hadi’s remark last week that the concept was mooted by former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and was no longer pertinent.