Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein says that it is important to ensure that there is unity within a political party when referring to the recent hubbub between PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat and party deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa.

Hishammuddin PC Umno Consituitional amendments 01 Hishammuddin (centre) added that he would "pray for them (PAS)" when performing his Friday prayers today, and hopes it does not split over Nasharuddin's support for the unity talks with Umno.

Nik Aziz had ticked off Nasharuddin on Wednesday for insisting on having the unity talks with arch-rival Umno.

The revered spiritual leader also told the latter to quit PAS and join Umno if he insist upon unity discussions.

Vision for the nation

"As much as I don't want Umno to be split ... why would I want, especially on a Friday, (for) members of PAS to be fighting among each other?" said Hishammuddin, after chairing a meeting of the the Umno committee for constitutional amendments at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

"Now if you allow me to go the mosque today, I will pray for them," he quipped to reporters present.

Hishammuddin reiterated Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stand that Umno is open to holding talks with PAS to form a unity government.

"The unity talks, in my opinion are good. By God's grace, it will becomes a reality but if there are conditions and if it does not proceed that does not mean that we cannot go on with our work," he said.

Hishammuddin also said that whatever the outcome of the unity government issue, Barisan Nasional will go on with its goal of ensuring that the prime minister's vision for the nation becomes an actuality.

"In Umno, we are already making the changes (constitutional amendments), so we are not just making rhetoric statements... we have started acting.

"In the meantime, we are already working towards the mission and vision of the prime minister to ensure that his vision is perfected... we welcome unity talks but our main duty is to move forward," he said.

No shirking off trafficking charge

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin, who is also the home minister also commented on the United States annual 'Trafficking in Persons Report 2009', which blacklisted Malaysia for human trade activities.

" I would like to know which aspect of trafficking they are talking about.

"I receive a notice today from the American Embassy that they will be writing to me officially and I will be working with them and with the NGOs concerned (to solve the matter), he said.

" It is our responsibility, it is not something that we want to shrug off... we have never ran away from our international obligation," added Hishammuddin.

" In a world that is borderless right now, our borders are really porous that is why we have to work with neighbouring countries to combat the crisis," he said.