UMNO to study PAS merger offer

UMNO to study PAS merger offer

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's ruling party said yesterday it
wanted to determine the motive behind fundamentalist Parti
Islam's (PAS) offer to form a coalition government in
northeastern Kelantan state.

Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the deputy
president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), said
the merger would be difficult if PAS imposed conditions.

"As stated by the party president (Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad), the spirit for cooperation is there and we adopt an
open stand," Anwar told reporters after opening a national gas
conference.

PAS has at the weekend offered to form a coalition government
in Kelantan state with UMNO as the Islamic party comes under
pressure to quit.

Acknowledging the state is in political crisis, Kelantan chief
minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat said his party was willing if UMNO was
sincere. But the move would be made on PAS' terms, he insisted.