KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 -- PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party was "forced" to cooperate with Umno as part of efforts to unite Malays and Muslims, warning that continued division could weaken their political position.

In his latest "Minda Presiden PAS" article, Abdul Hadi rejected claims that cooperation between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) was merely political manoeuvring, saying such alliances should instead be viewed as efforts to strengthen unity.

"Cooperation between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN) is considered a political game as imagined by those who are still afflicted by compounded ignorance and do not understand religion itself," he said.

Abdul Hadi said divisions among ...