Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the latest development in PAS showed that the party is divided on the issue of cooperation with Umno.

"There are certain quarters who give more importance to politics than the interest of the ummah (Muslim community).

"We appreciate those who see Umno as representing the Malays, as a party which has done a lot of good deeds in the struggle of the ummah and in taking care of the interests of other races," he told a news conference at the end 15th Asean Summit in Thailand.

mic election 120909 najib Najib said the existence of the two groups manifested in the latest call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) by PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to rid the party of 'problematic' leaders.

Najib said that one group in PAS rejected any form of cooperation with Umno although it was for the interest of Malay and Muslim unity.

He said that another group of leaders, who was willing to find ways to enhance unity among the ummah, was more inclined towards cooperating with Umno.

"What types of cooperation is not defined but they don't want to see disunity," he said.

Asked whether Umno would discuss with PAS, Najib said it would be difficult to do so as long as there was no consensus in the party.

"Let's wait and see the development in PAS," he said, adding that any discussion would not be fruitful if it only involved certain leaders and not the party as a whole.

MCA peace plan

On the "greater unity plan" announced by MCA president Ong Tee Keat to resolve the crisis in MCA, Najib said he had advised top leaders of the party to find a solution to the crisis as soon as possible.

NONE "It looks like they accepted the solution based on the two groups working together as a team because there is no single group which obtained a majority or 50 percent of the support based on the EGM results.

"Like it or not, they should accept the fact," he said.

Najib said that only through working as a team could both leaders represent the whole in MCA.

On Thursday, Ong and arch-rival former deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek agreed to work as a team and unite the party under a "greater unity plan."

Ong said the plan had been agreed upon Najib who is Barisan Nasional chairperson. - Bernama