Is Hassan Ali Out From PAKATAN?

KUALA LUMPUR
Saturday, 26 December 2009.

Facing possible party censure for misconduct, Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali (picture) has denied he will leave the state Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government to be an independent lawmaker.

The conservative executive councillor reiterated today that he and PAS will remain in Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim's administration following widespread speculation over his future moves.

"Its not true... That's malicious news to smear my name. I have no such intentions," Hasan told The Malaysian Insider in response to the speculation.

The PAS disciplinary committee is now investigating Hasan, and his more liberal former deputy Khalid Samad, in a raging controversy over statements that disparaged the state government made up of PAS and its allies DAP and PKR.

Party disciplinary chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had said there was a strong case to censure both for misconduct. Hasan, who was formerly with Umno, has been linked to a party faction keen to have an alliance with their political rivals.

But the Gombak Setia assemblyman stressed he would remain in PR which he said needed quality lawmakers who "will not jump to other parties".

Hasan said the PR government should take note of the PAS government in Kelantan that remained in power despite just having a one-seat majority in the state assembly.

"This is the principle of quality that we must also have here. In the past one and a half years running Selangor, we have proven to be a clean government and we must keep it that way," added the state councillor for Islamic affairs.

Rumours of Hasan walking out of the state government came a day after the PAS panel met last Wednesday to probe allegations against him and Khalid, who is Shah Alam MP.

The panel decided to call up both men to explain further but rumours flew that Hasan had been suspended from all party posts for two terms.

Responding to the rumours, Hasan also denied a gathering will be held at the Selangor PAS office in Shah Alam tomorrow for a memorandum to rekindle cooperation with the state Umno.

"There is no such event tomorrow. As the state commissioner, I would know if it happens. No such event," he stressed.

The party organ website Harakah Daily had quoted text messages that the event was to be held and Hasan would receive the memorandum.

"Datanglah beramai-ramai demi kepentingan Melayu... (Please come for the sake of Malay interests...)," Harakah Daily quoted the text message as saying.

The website accused Umno of trying to take advantage of the party's internal problems in Selangor to split its members.

Hasan also reiterated he will cooperate with the disciplinary panel which is setting a date to question him further.

"I am ready to give my full cooperation and testimony to the disciplinary committee. But until now, I haven't received anything from them. I haven't heard anything at all," he said.

The panel has fixed Jan 7 and 9 to question Khalid but said it will arrange another date for Hasan.

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