PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said his claims against renegade party member Hasan Ali of falling into nemesis Umno’s trap is backed by “a meeting” during the fasting month in August.

NONE “I want to ask him (Hasan) one thing, what was he doing after terawih (congregational prayers after breaking fast) at the Le Meridien Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, which was also attended by (former deputy president) Nasharudin (Mat Isa) and three others.

“I want to know what was discussed - economic project or political project?” asked Mustafa.

He refused to divulge further details of the said meeting and the identities of the three individuals, despite being repeatedly questioned by reporters.

Instead Mustafa joked that he is willing to take back his queries on the matter if “it is going to cause more trouble”.

“I want him to know that we know his movements... don’t think we don’t know what he does.”

This, he revealed, was to answer Hasan’s demand that Mustafa prove that the latter has fallen into Umno’s trap in his continuous attacks against the Islamist party.

The central committee member, had labelled superior Mustafa of being “arrogant” in accusing him of being entangled in Umno’s agenda to weaken the party.

Hasan’s fiery retort came after party organ Harakahdaily published an exclusive interview with Mustafa last week, saying that Hasan and Nasharudin have been damaging the party by asking several leaders “to no longer believe in the party’s struggles”.

“I shall not disclose who the personalities are, but I just want to say that what Hasan is doing is under the ambit of PAS’ political enemies,” Mustafa was quoted as saying on the blog of the Harakah journalist who had interviewed him.

azlan Mustafa had further said both Hasan and Nasharudin would not be long in the party, expecting them to leave soon, and labelling the duo, who lost in the recent party elections as “sore losers”.

Hasan had gone ballistic on party leaders, accusing them of shying away from the party’s Islamic principles in adopting the concept of ‘ Negara Kebajikan ’ (welfare state) to appease the multi-racial Pakatan Rakyat partners.

He also demanded that the party be steadfast in establishing Malaysia as an Islamic state.

'Not as obvious as being caught in a mousetrap'

However, in a press conference today, Mustapa clarified that “falling into Umno’s trap” is not “as obvious as being caught in a mousetrap”.

“If he (Hasan) leaves PAS and then criticises the party, no one will hinder his criticisms, but when he remains within PAS and he condemns the party it will create doubts and that is what Umno wants.

“But I don’t think Hasan will join Umno or Umno will accept Hasan, but that is just my opinion,” said Mustafa.

He indirectly warned Hasan that if he continued with the barrage, he (Mustafa) will not hesitate to reveal the details of the contentious meeting.

“If he wants to deny it, it is up to him. I will back up my claim. I just want him to know, I have information on this and other incidents.

“The best step for him is to follow Nasharudin’s move... by coming to distance himself from Umno’s trap,” said Mustafa, referring to Nasharudin’s statement in the newspapers yesterday, stating that he never considered joining Umno.

“Despite what we keep telling him, he keeps talking, so I hope with what I said, he stops talking,” he said.

Mustafa added that party president Abdul Hadi Awang has decided to summon Hasan and Nasharudin to explain their recent outbursts and public criticisms against the party.

Also to be hauled up is Selangor information chief Saari Sungib over remarks that Hasan would be dropped as a candidate in the next general election.  

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