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Monday, 9 November 2009

Selangor MB slams PAS delegates

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider

KLANG, Nov 8 — Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said today he was disappointed with allegations made by PAS delegates yesterday that Pakatan Rakyat was not doing enough to champion Islam.

He told them to instead “walk the talk” themselves.

Yesterday at PAS’s special seminar, some party delegates accused PR of not championing Muslim rights and were suspicious what role Islam could play in its ties with allies DAP and PKR.

The Selangor Mentri Besar stressed today that Islam requires Muslims not only to preach but also to be proactive.

“Islam itself requires us to be proactive as a Muslim, it is not expecting other people or it is the Ummah (society) itself has the social responsibility but in Islam also it tells us that we must not only preach but also do.

“So if someone wants to complain that Pakatan Rakyat, then that Muslim has to say that he has spent 2,000 man hours promoting and there is nobody that has done it,” he said.

He added that the delegates must set a good example before making accusations.

“I myself am doing it, we don’t complain. We promote Islam,” he said.

Khalid also told PAS to earn its leadership role and not expect it.

“If you want to be a leader, people have to accept you as a leader. It is not you want people to say that you are a leader. No, you earn your leadership and respect,” he said.

Yesterday’s PAS seminar showed its members were now concerned over a blurring of lines and its future direction in PR.

Some 1,000 PAS delegates at the special seminar to strengthen the party and affirm its place in PR concluded that the party must stick to its Islamic line even at the expense of the federal opposition pact.

PAS Selangor were at loggerheads with PR when the party’s state commissioner Datuk Hasan Ali criticised the state’s select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) for “bullying public servants” during a recent public inquiry.

The outburst by the PAS leader reignited discussions on Hasan’s loyalty and his party’s commitment to PR in Selangor.

Hasan previously clashed with PR colleagues over the sale of beer at convenience outlets in Shah Alam, and a plan to empower mosque committee members and workers to police immoral activities in the state.

PAS state liaison committee secretary Mohd Khairuddin Othman has also issued a statement of the party’s support for Hasan and warned that the party was considering pulling out of the state government.

Recently PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat wanted a special muktamar to rid the party of leaders whom he described as “problematic” and seen to favour working closely with Umno instead of strengthening PR.

He had named Hasan along with Nasharuddin and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali as those who had made the party look inconsistent.

However, PAS central committee members recently unanimously decided not to call for a special muktamar but to hold yesterday’s seminar instead.

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