PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan today said that the Islamist party is prepared to forgive and forget Umno's past transgressions as part of the current mood to push for cooperation between the once arch-rivals.

He said to forgive and forget was part and parcel of the party's struggles and was practiced at all times by PAS.

“ This is among the features of the struggle. It is nothing new […] many other leaders have joined PAS and they have good stature and are well-received amongst the members.

“ Now we do the same across party lines,” he told reporters at the sidelines of Malay rights group Perkasa's sixth annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

Takiyuddin said in view of the proposal to forge closer links, PAS was now in the process of explaining the wishes of the two parties to its members.

“We are in the process of giving a comprehensive explanation to all our members regarding that wish.

“ Only when (they) can see it, there can be mutual understanding. At the end of the day, in PAS, what is brought forward by the president should be 'collective' in the name of the party, in that it is a collective decision,” he said.

He was referring to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who together with Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, is one of the main proponents of the move to draw the two parties closer together.

'Same principles'

Takiyuddin said the principles of PAS' struggles were based on Islam and when there were other parties sharing the same principle, PAS would approach them with an open heart.

“ All this while PAS has been fighting based on that principle. Whenever other parties want to adopt the same principles, we are open to forwarding this agenda together.

“ On the basis of cooperation based on Islamic requirements, we are prepared to be with anyone for the benefit of Muslims,” he said.

Takiyuddin attended the Perkasa annual general meeting together with PAS election director Mustafa Ali as the Islamist party's representatives. Umno, which was also invited, did not send any representative.

Speculation of concrete moves to cement ties between PAS and Umno picked up pace after Najib extended an olive branch to the Islamist party at the just-ended 69th Umno annual general assembly.