The relationship between the two largest Malay-based parties, PAS and Umno, will remain the same despite a leadership change, PAS acting president Abdul Hadi Awang said.

He said even during Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's tenure, ties between both parties were normal.

"We support what's good and reject what's negative," he was quoted by national news agency, Bernama as saying after a ceramah at the party headquarters in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan, last night.

"The relationship between PAS and Umno will be the same when Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi takes over the helm of the country and Umno," he added.

Abdul Hadi, who is Terengganu Menteri Besar, was responding to questions on the Umno general assembly which ended in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, and Mahathir's retirement in October.

Asked what he makes out of Mahathir's criticism of PAS at the Umno assembly, Abdul Hadi said it showed that PAS was strong.

During the winding-up speech, his final appearance at the annual assembly as Umno president, Mahathir blasted PAS for misinterpreting Islamic teachings and misleading the country's Muslims.

The main Malay-based opposition party, a splinter from Umno since 1951, seeks to build an Islamic theocracy in Malaysia.

On Mahathir's achievements over the last 22 years, Abdul Hadi acknowledged that he had brought about positive changes to the country and among the Malays, especially in the economic field.

He said Prime Minister certainly carried out several reforms that had not been done by previous leaders.

"I feel that although I criticise him and disagree with some of his actions, there are several reforms that he has carried out administratively that were not done by previous Umno leaders.

"Among them are his efforts to give a place for the Malays in economy. This I don't deny," he was quoted by Bernama as saying at his office in Kuala Terengganu.