Hasan Ali is Selangor's 'saviour', says Utusan

The only person who can save Selangor and unite the Malays is state executive councillor Hasan Ali, who hails from PAS.

So says Zaini Hassan, a top editor with Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia.

Labelling him as pejuang (a fighter) who has the favour of the Selangor sultan, Zaini says Hasan (right) is the only person feared by the current state government and who has the backing of many PAS members and civil servants.

He recounted how Hasan was the only exco member who defended the current state secretary during the row over his appointment, and also moved against threats to the faith of Muslims in opposition to other state exco members.

"It is evident that he is a fighter. He never fearful of losing his seat, office and position for the sake of the dignity and sanctity of Islam and the unity of the Malays, which is being threatened."

'A prime mover of change'

Both these factors, Zaini wrote, gave Hasan an edge in being the prime mover of change in order to enact a ‘marriage', hinting at a political alliance between PAS and Umno, "in order to uphold the sanctity of Islam and the unity of Malays".

As proof of the sultan's support and recognition of the PAS exco, Zaini touched on speculation that Hasan may receive one of Selangor's highest state awards during the coming birthday celebration of the sultan.

He also pointed to a recent speech of the sultan, in which the Selangor ruler spoke of his distress that the Muslims and Malays were divided.

Zaini believes the sultan's speech to be a silent endorsement of Hasan's fight.

"Selangor must be saved!" exhorts Zaini in his weekly column Cuit, another in a long line of Utusan Malaysia articles endorsing Hasan and calling for PAS and Umno to bury the hatchet in the name of Islam and the Malays.