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.