Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein urged PAS to go beyond politics in its cooperation with Umno, so as to ensure that Muslims are well respected.

"Be it PAS or Umno, if we really want to fight for Islam and make sure the Muslims are respected, we have to think beyond politics," Hishammuddin said at the Parliament lobby today.

"If this is its principle in establishing ties (with Umno), then I, as Umno vice-president, welcome (PAS)," he said.

There is no need to dispute who started the initiative for Umno-PAS cooperation as long it is done with the genuine intention to benefit the Muslim community, he said.

Hishammuddin said this when asked to respond to a suggestion that Umno seemed more eager than PAS in establishing ties between the two parties.

The Islamic party has pledged to adopt a new approach to work with Umno following the formation of Pakatan Harapan, the new opposition pact.

Prime Minister and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak had extended an olive branch to PAS at the 69th Umno general assembly on Dec 11.

Last Thursday, both Najib and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang ( photo ) shared the same stage at a conference.

However, PAS ulama chief Mahfodz Mohamed had laid out hudud as the premise for the cooperation of both parties, which was rejected by MCA and Gerakan.

At the press conference today, Hishammuddin said they have yet to discuss on the issue of hudud.