PAS will only consider the proposal to unite with Umno if the invitation comes from Umno president Najib Abdul Razak himself.

PAS can only take the proposal seriously if the invitation is made openly, PAS Dewan Ulama chief Harun Taib is quoted as saying in today's Berita Harian .

NONE "Umno must first express if it really needs PAS, or if this is just pressure from the grassroots.

"We want to hear this from the Umno president himself. We are waiting to hear his voice," Harun ( left ) is quoted as saying.

The issue of an Umno-PAS unity has long been discussed and reared its head again after the results of the 13th general election.

The proposal is often mooted in the name of Malay and Muslim unity, with Umno and PAS being the two largest political party representing the interests of this community.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has rejected the proposal but vocal former PAS leaders such as former deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and ex-Kedah PAS depuy commissioner Muslim Othman have spoken in favour of a union.