Selangor to discuss Hasan Ali’s replacement Wednesday

By Debra Chong

January 08, 2012

PAS gave Hasan the axe today for “damaging the party’s interests”. — File pic

SHAH ALAM, Jan 8 — Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Selangor government will decide on Wednesday the replacement for Datuk Hasan Ali as executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, following his sudden sacking from PAS today.

Faekah Hussin, political secretary to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, confirmed the news today, after getting word from her boss.

“His (Hasan’s) post is on the understanding he is a representative of PAS. His replacement will be submitted to Tuanku Sultan this Wednesday,” she told The Malaysian Insider.

She said the next candidate is also likely to hail from the Islamist party but declined to elaborate on the matter as she was still waiting for the official notice from the PAS leadership.

“All exco are representatives of the ruling party or parties. Datuk Hasan Ali himself can resign as he will not represent the ruling party in power,” Faekah said.

She said the state would write in to the Selangor palace tomorrow to inform the state Ruler of the latest development and consult Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah for his input.

The state executive councillor is seen as an intermediary for the state government and the palace in matters pertaining to Islam, as the Sultan is the head of the creed in Selangor.

“We do practise consultation with the palace out of courtesy,” Faekah said.

The PAS central working committee booted Hasan from the party today, with president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang saying it decided to revoke the Selangor executive councillor’s membership after weighing up all views from the panel at its monthly meeting.

“The decision was made based on Datuk Hasan Ali’s actions which have wronged and damaged the party’s interest as provided for in the PAS constitution,” the Marang MP said in a statement.

Last month, Hasan criticised PAS in Umno-controlled media such as Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian and TV3 for purportedly abandoning its Islamist credentials for the sake of political gain.

Hasan accused PAS, which removed him as Selangor chief after its general assembly in June 2010, of straying from its original struggle for an Islamic state by pushing for a welfare state.

The Gombak Setia assemblyman again drew the ire of his colleagues this week when he said tomorrow’s rally in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when the opposition leader learns the verdict of his two-year-long sodomy trial, was a waste of time.

Abdul Hadi had already backed the rally, and other party leaders said Hasan had insulted the party president by going against his decision.