Umno and PAS must offer more than just racial and religious rhetoric during the Rantau by-election campaign, said Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.

"My position is that Umno and PAS must sit down and discuss the common principles (for cooperation).

"We cannot just decide to play race and religion to win election. (We) need more than that," said Khairy, whose constituents includes those who vote in Rantau.