KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Umno and PAS will likely work together for the Sg Kandis by-election, Umno secretary general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said today.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby today, Annuar said this cooperation will be formed as and when needed.

"The next cooperation is probably during the by-election,” Annuar said.

"We will cooperate on a case by case basis. The new political landscape is helping us get closer to each other,” he said.

Umno and PAS were already cosying up to one another before the 14th general election finally put both parties on the same side officially.

The two parties also led Opposition lawmakers to stage a walkout before the swearing-in ceremony on Monday to protest the nomination process of the Speaker.

This prompted speculation that the two parties would eventually solidify this cooperation, but PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang ruled out a merger between the two former rivals yesterday.

The Sungai Kandis by-election will be held on August 4, after nomination on July 21.