No MB post, vexed Hasan fires away

Hasan Ali's former aide also claims that the PAS leader played up the apostasy issue to protect the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor from scrutiny.

INTERVIEW

PETALING JAYA: Since former Selangor PAS chief Hasan Ali failed in his bid to become menteri besar, his former aide Abdul Rahman Talib alleged that Hasan started criticising the Pakatan Rakyat state government during party retreats or meetings.

Rahman cited an example where, during a party retreat attended by Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abu Bakar, former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin, PAS vice-president Husam Musa and PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, Hasan had badmouthed the Selangor government.

“He kept saying that his fellow exco member (DAP’s) Teresa Kok was fighting against Islamic programmes in Selangor. He also said that the Indians were demanding to build more temples in the state. At this point, Khalid stood up and scolded Hasan, saying what was wrong with the Indians building temples,” he said.

Hasan also started making wild accusations, saying that in Selangor only 30% of the local council positions were given to Malays.

Rahman said that there were many times during Selangor PAS meetings, Khalid and Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib would trade barbs with Hasan over his wild accusations.

Diverting attention

On Hasan’s allegation of apostasy, Rahman, who operates a blog under the moniker Tulang Besi, alleged that the issue was played up to divert people’s attention over the zakat mismanagement in Selangor.

“Remember the Malays hauled up at the Methodist Church gathering last year? They said that they had no choice but to get funds from the church as zakat authorities rejected their application.

“That’s when Khalid Samad and former Perlis mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin started questioning what Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) was doing. To protect MAIS from scrutiny, Hasan played up the apostasy issue,” he told FMT.

“MAIS had refused to allow the state government to conduct an audit of its RM200 million worth of funds. Why should they be secretive? It’s public funds. For questioning them, MAIS retaliated by revoking Khalid Samad’s religious credentials,” he added.

Rahman also scoffed at Hasan’s claims that DAP would merge Malaysia with Singapore if the Chinese-dominated party came into power.

“Although PAP’s rule in the island went unchallenged since Singapore’s independence, it did not repeal its Article 153 that accords special position for the Malays. Besides, the Malays in Singapore are happy with PAP.

“But look at the Singapore Malaysia National Organisation (SMNO), Umno’s offshoot in Singapore. They are too busy fighting among themselves for posts. That’s what Umno will become once they lose power,” he said.

‘Hadi wanted him out’

In January, prior to Hasan’s sacking, Rahman said he was informed that the decision to give Hasan the boot came from none other than his benefactor, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

“I was told that the rest of them wanted to issue a warning or suspend Hasan. But before the meeting was adjourned, Hadi told the CEC that he wanted Hasan out.

“But the question is, why is Hasan angry with his fellow reformist and calling them parasites? Why not take his frustrations out on Hadi?” asked Rahman.

The blogger said with Hasan’s sacking, the conservatives had lost their voice in the party again and their influence had diminished tremendously.

Rahman added that those in support of the unity talks probably did not remember that in the 1970s, PAS had joined the Barisan Nasional coalition under the stewardship of Tun Abdul Razak.

“(PAS spiritual leader) Nik Aziz Nik Mat knows the damage PAS suffered and the personal sacrifices party members had to make in rebuilding the party after it was expelled from BN. He was then the ulama council chief.

“I remember my father, who was then the Negri Sembilan PAS Youth chief, had to fork out his own money to rebuild the party. Most of those in support of the unity talks were not there when PAS was at its lowest point,” he said.