Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria has revealed that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad once asked for his help in uniting PAS and Umno.

The mufti said he accepted Mahathir’s suggestion and promptly met with both parties.

There was a ray of light, said Harussani, on the results of the meetings.

“I was asked by Mahathir ( photo ) to find ways to unite PAS and Umno,” Harussani is quoted as saying by Malay daily Sinar Harian .

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, too, had discussed with him on the matter and had asked whether there were ways to unite the two parties.

“Praise to Allah, I met with them and they all agreed for us to be united, God willing,” Harussani is reported to have said at the regional conference for al-Azhar graduates yesterday.

Asked to elaborate further on what he meant by the “ray of light”, Harussani said it meant that the matter could be discussed further.

“I think there’s a point of contact, maybe it can be discussed further.

“Praise to Allah, I feel there is awareness among our politicians, be it from Umno or PAS, they are all spirited in Islam," he said.

Najib in his speech at the regional conference yesterday reiterated his peace offering made to PAS.

PAS, on the other hand, has yet to make a decision on the matter, preferring a “wait and see” approach.