COMMENT Umno president Najib Razak is taking up where his party's mouthpiece, Utusan Malaysia , left off.

Najib said yesterday that his party is open to talks with PAS on the issue of cooperation between them on the administration of Islam.

At the conclusion of the PAS muktamar last weekend, the Islamic party's president, Abdul Hadi Awang, in an apparent sop to the unity-with-Umno faction within his party, had offered to talk with Umno on cooperation on matters pertaining to Islamic administration.

The faction had not gained the upper hand in PAS' internal elections. Hadi's offer was not only an earnest of good Islamic form but was also placation to elements within his party said to be uneasy with Pakatan Rakyat...