The Selangor exco member in charge of Islamic affairs, Hasan Mohamed Ali, said he will continue to work closely together with PAS and Pakatan Rakyat as long as they promote and defend the principles of Malay, Islam and the monarchy.

Responding when quizzed if he would leave PAS should he continue to face difficulties in his party, he said quitting PAS would not be that simple.

“I have been with PAS for so long, it will not be easy to leave just like that, there are friends to consult as well as others, muftis, advisors and political veterans, that I need to talk with.

NONE “However, if any organisation no longer supports the three principles that I strive for, then it may happen,” Hasan ( left ) told a press conference at his residence in Kuala Lumpur today.

Asked if he would continue to be ‘loyal’ to PAS and Pakatan, he said he was not comfortable using the word ‘loyal’, as it might bring other connotations.

Hasan stressed that he was ‘loyal’ to Allah but ‘loyalty’ to humans in the context of political parties was not asked by Islam.

“I don’t want it to be quoted out of context and spun to say that I say no need to be loyal to the sultan, for example.”

Thus, he said, the words he would describe his relationship with PAS and Pakatan is that of “working closely together”.

“I assist them, and they assist me,” he explained.

He also downplayed the fact that he failed to receive enough nominations to defend the Gombak Setia state seat, where he is the incumbent.

“Nominations are just small matters, my fight for Islam is the larger battle, so for me it’s inconsequential,” the former state PAS commissioner related.

He added that if he was not nominated, that would not stop him and his group from moving towards their agenda of uniting the Malays and Muslims.

Accepting an invitation from the Himpun movement

As an example, Hasan informed the assembled reporters, he has accepted an invitation from the Himpun movement to appear at their gatherings nationwide.

“I accepted this in the name of the Islamic faith and it is a non-partisan NGO-supported movement that aims to explain to Muslims the threats to their faith.”

However, he admitted, the timing of the disclosure does affect him as it was on the eve of his receiving a royal award from the sultan.

“I have a small heart here, you also have a small heart here, anyone would feel something when this happens,” Hasan said.

He also theorised that while he could not be sure, there might be elements in the state PAS that were attempting to move against him.

bersih suhakam memo 091107 saari sungib “Sometimes you face difficulties from without, sometimes from within... I don’t like to use the word conspiracy, but there may be a movement to stop Dr Hasan before he gets too far, perhaps?” suggested the Gombak Setia assemblyperson.

However, he also said that he did not blame Selangor PAS information chief Saari Sungib ( right ) for disclosing the matter to the media, as Saari might have good intentions.

Hasan said issues such as the nominations, which have not yet been referred to the national party leadership, should have been kept under wrap, but someone had jumped the gun and preempted the national leadership.

He hoped that the national leadership would look at this oversight.

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