While it acknowledges that cooperation is a crucial element in any activity including politics, PKR warned PAS that working together with Umno may not end well for the party and the public at large.

PKR info chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh asserted that as a partner still working together politically with PAS, despite the Islamist party's exit from the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat, the PKR political bureau must make things clear.

"Cooperation is not wrong, indeed it is encouraged in all efforts towards strengthening the economy, ensuring social justice and responsible leadership.

"But wise judgments must be made when the partner one is cooperating with is not serious and is contributing to rot, excesses, graft and cruelty.

"In the current national political context, the excesses of Umno-BN in governance and administration are clear. The economic and leadership crisis occurred because of their weaknesses and incompetence when it comes to trust, justice, truth, conduct and responsibility," he said in a statement.

Syed Ibrahim ( photo ) then elaborated on the many scandals linked to the Malay party and the BN such as 1MDB and various alleged misappropriation of public funds.

He reminded PAS that while the spirit of cooperation means working together with others, it must also stem from a shared objective and a proper end in mind.

This, he argued, is because semantically speaking, cooperation can mean both for good or for bad.

He quoted Verse 2 of Surah Al-Maidah from the holy Qur'an, which stated that while cooperating is encouraged in Islam, it should not be in things that lead to sin and enmity.

The PKR info chief also quoted a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad, relating that Muslims must help those who are oppressed, as well as stop those who are doing the oppressing.

In conclusion, he said that while cooperation in all good things is encouraged, one must not be drawn to cooperate with those that work toward sin and are oppressing others.

This as some PAS leaders are being seen as advocating closer ties with Umno in the name of Islamic unity and for the good of the country.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was quoted as saying that the Islamist party is prepared to forgive and forget Umno's past transgressions.

While its research director Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki had said that current Umno members and leaders does not inherit the sins of past generations, thus makes them ripe for fresh start in inter-party relations.

Today, vice-president Iskandar Samad warned that the tale of an Umno-PAS alliance is just media spin used to attack PAS.