Malay rulers to act 'to reunite Muslims'

Malay rulers to act 'to reunite Muslims'

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's traditional rulers have agreed to act to "reunite Muslims", Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Friday.

Mahathir, quoted by the official Bernama news agency, said he briefed the Conference of Rulers on national affairs on Thursday, "especially on problems facing Muslims in Malaysia".

Mahathir, who acted in 1983-1984 and again in 1993 to curb the powers of the state rulers, said that constitutionally religious problems were their responsibility.

The ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) has frequently accused the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) of distorting the teachings of Islam for political ends, a charge it denies.