'PAS rejects any form of cooperation with Umno and Barisan Nasional to form the government, whether at the federal or state level,' said party president Hadi Awang.

'The issue of Umno's offer to form a government with PAS therefore does not arise,' he told reporters.

The brief news conference yesterday was held at the end of a rare meeting between PAS's central working committee and its highest decision-making body, the religious scholars' consultative council.

The council, made up of senior clerics in the party, does not meet with the working committee except on major issues. The council's chief, arch-conservative Mohamed Daud Iraqi, was present and so was PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat.

The meeting was held to decide whether to formally accept or reject Umno's overtures under the banner of Malay unity and to strengthen Islam.

The rejection killed hopes in Umno, which leads the governing Barisan Nasional coalition, that PAS could be enticed away from Pakatan which is led by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Pakatan consists of Mr Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and PAS.

DAP strategist Liew Chin Tong told The Straits Times: 'PAS survived as a party not because of its power but because of its moral high ground. Cooperating with Umno just for a ministerial post would jeopardise the party's image for a long, long time.'

Said Mr Salehudin Hashim, PKR's secretary-general: 'We find that very reassuring, especially when we never doubted their commitment to Pakatan in the first place.'

The meeting of the PAS chiefs lasted a lengthy five hours, reflecting the gravity of the issue.

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi two weeks ago made a shock announcement that he had held several hush-hush talks with PAS leaders over Malay unity and Islam.

In turn, PAS revealed that Umno had asked it to abandon its Pakatan partners.

Umno had offered a power-sharing plan in Perak and Selangor, two states won by the three-party Pakatan alliance at the March polls. The offer included possible chief ministers' posts for the Islamists.

The revelations have stirred uneasiness among PAS' partners in Pakatan, which together control five of Malaysia's 13 states.

The PAS grassroots was also unsettled, as various leaders gave opposing views on whether the party should work with its traditional rival for Malay votes, Umno.

Influential party spiritual leader Nik Aziz has said he is vehemently opposed to cooperating with Umno.

Then, on Wednesday, he said PAS would agree to work with Umno if the implementation of strict Islamic laws was accepted.

Yesterday, Datuk Hadi closed the door on cooperation with its political rival.

'We are committed to Pakatan Rakyat and we will play an active and positive role in our common struggle to reform the government,' he said, adding that PAS was grateful to non-Muslim voters who supported PAS.

Mr Hadi said there would be no secret meetings with Umno in the future.

hazlinh@sph.com.sg