Outspoken PAS leader Hasan Ali finally broke his silence today in response to attacks launched by Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim who accused the state exco of ‘lying' in the aftermath of the Selcat debacle.

hasan ali umno pas selangor talk quality hotel 300708 05 At the beginning of a press conference, Hasan (left) said he would not comment on the matter, but later went on to speak at length on the criticisms without being prompted by reporters as he was just "giving a statement of facts".

The state PAS commissioner denied claims made by Teng, who is also Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat)'s chairperson, that he was lying.

According to Hasan, he did not such thing and was just "quoting from newspapers".

Hasan had earlier claimed that Teng had described Klang district officer Bakhtiar Hussin as being "ineffective and unfit" for the post.

"I was merely quoting the word ‘unfit' based on the press conference Teng held every time a session of a Selcat hearing ended," said the PAS commissioner at his Hari Raya open house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail today.

Both Hasan and Teng got in the feud when the speaker lambasted Hasan for cooking up a ‘blatant lie' .

The saga started when Hasan criticised the Selcat public hearing to probe Barisan Nasional state reps for allegedly misusing state funds before Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor.

But the differences he has with his Pakatan partners would not dampen his determination to "advise" ( memujuk) the state government to take into consideration his proposals in revamping Selcat.

This is also despite Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's announcement stating that Selcat's procedures and membership would remain unchanged for now.

"But if our proposals are relevant and good for Selcat, I as PAS representative, hope it can function even better and more efficiently," said Hasan.

Why reveal ‘confidential' information?

On the same note, Hasan also questioned Teng's motive in revealing that he (Hasan) was the one who "advocated" the transfers of civil servants to another departments at the beginning of the Pakatan administration.

"Teng should have known that this type of information is confidential as the decision was made by the state exco. The state exco was the one who instructed me to review the civil servants' position so we can get the best of the best to administer the state.

NONE "I do not think such a decision should be publicised in the media and all that. I don't think what exco and the menteri besar have decided should be made public," Hasan added.

Furthermore, he said that he was merely ‘proposing' to the state government to revamp Selcat, and not criticise or attack the committee.

"I am just performing my duty as a state exco by giving a few suggestions on how to defend and strengthen Selcat in Selangor ... so it could be more humane and respectful," he said.

Hasan also said the state government needs to re-look at ways how the public hearing should be conducted.

"If the district officers agree with Selcat's conduct, why is it always highlighted in the media that they (do not agree with it)?" he asked.

Welcomes DAP-PAS meeting

In a related development, Hasan welcomes a meeting that will be held between DAP and PAS next Wednesday, saying that it should iron out any "miscommunication" between the two parties.

"There is a reason for us to meet them. Even my officials in the party are drafting the agenda that will be discussed with our friends in DAP."

To a question whether the meeting would heal the rift between the two parties, he said "even now everything is already healed".

Hasan further went on the defensive when asked if his statements to the media today are not in line with PAS' secretary-general Mustafa Ali who yesterday urged all the party leaders not to make any public statements against any Pakatan leaders.

"I am not making any public statements, I am just celebrating (the media by holding a press conference).

"You have to write that in the report, otherwise you would say that I am abusing this function (his Hari Raya open house) to explain my position. If that is the case, you do not follow the rules I have set out earlier.

"Even in my other press conferences, I do not wish to see you there," said Hasan to the Malaysiakini reporter.