The Penang UMNO Liaison Committee is confident that the political cooperation to be forged with PAS will benefit both parties.

Its chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said Penang UMNO's willingness to cooperate with PAS was based on UMNO's stand of not wanting to see a split among the Malays.

"We are ready to cooperate with PAS or any Islamic-based non-governmental organisation but that decision can only be finalised by the top leaders of both parties," he told reporters, here, today.

Also present were state UMNO liaison secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir and Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah.