Pas said today that it will only cooperate with UMNO especially in matters involving Islam but will not join Barisan Nasional.

Pas Vice-President Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said this was a longstanding stand and not something new.

"Given the current political climate, there has been a lot of speculation about Pas cooperating with UMNO ... We are prepared to cooperate on issues touching on the interests of the masses," he told reporters after attending a state exco meeting at the Kota Darul Naim Complex here.

Talk of UMNO-Pas cooperation became rife after Prime Minister and UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak extended the hand of friendship to Pas at the recent UMNO General Assembly.