Hasan Ali says saddened by axing after ‘championing Islam’

Hasan insists his recent run-ins with the party were over his fight for Islam. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Self-styled champion of Islam Datuk Hasan Ali expressed shock and sadness at his sudden dismissal from PAS today, insisting his efforts so far were in the name of the religion.

“I am shocked by the PAS central working committee’s drastic decision to sack me. I am saddened because my fight championing Islam all this while has been rewarded in such a manner.

“I will refer to colleagues and ulama friends for their views on what course of action I should take next,” the Gombak Setia assemblyman said in a short press statement.

Hasan can still appeal to the party’s Syura Council, its powerful decision-making body made up of religious scholars better known as ulama.

He said he will call for a media conference soon, but did not give a date.

The PAS central working committee announced it was revoking Hasan’s party membership with immediate effect for persistently going against the Islamist party’s stand.

President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said in a statement, “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.”

PAS women’s wing chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff told The Malaysian Insider that the decision was reached unanimously.

“The decision was made after careful study, discussion and advice given to Hasan but he still ignored orders and still went against the party’s policies,” she said.

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat also attended today’s monthly meeting.

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 Selangor lawmaker, who is also facing the sack as executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs, again drew the ire of his colleagues this week when he said tomorrow’s rally in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as 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.

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Selangor government will meet Wednesday to discuss his replacement.