Hasan: I was sacked because of Anwar

"I was sacked because of Anwar Ibrahim," said former Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali tonight.     

Speaking on his sacking from PAS earlier today, Hasan who is also state Islamic affairs, malay customs, infrastructure and public amenities committee chairperson, said all the comments he had made involved the opposition leader's personal issue.     

"I do not want him (Anwar) to drag the people along in his fight which I feel is a very dirty fight. This is what I've been struggling for.     

"I'm not willing to attend the gathering in support of Anwar tomorrow.

"I am among the PAS members who are not prepared to justify why Anwar should be prime minister," he told reporters at his residence in Damansara, Selangor.     

Also present were former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali.      

Hasan said he would hold a press conference next week to explain in detail his struggles.

Hasan said Anwar, who is also PKR adviser, was not fit to be prime minister as he had a dubious background and felt that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang or the party's spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat was more suitable to hold the post.     

"I was most unhappy when there was pressure from Azmin Ali (PKR deputy president) to sack me. How could people from PAS be treated that way?     

"What right did Azmin have to interfere in PAS' internal affairs? Whatever has happened, whether I've been sacked or dropped, I will continue to struggle for Islam, the royal institution and the Malays in this country," he said.     

Perkasa chief lends support

Hasan said he tried to bring these struggles into PAS but his efforts were not appreciated and not given the way, but hindered by PAS itself.     

Meanwhile, Nasharudin said his presence tonight was to state his personal support for Hasan, who he said was always committed to struggling for Islam although faced with various challenges and obstacles.     

"The PAS cental committee's action of sacking Hasan was a drastic one as they gave him no opportunity to explain.     

"I, as a member of the PAS ulama syura (consultative council), wish to state here that there is still room for him to serve the party by appealing against the sacking to the council within 30 days," he said.

Nasharudin also hoped no polemic would arise among PAS members who regard that those who gave their views through the pro-Umno media intended to join Umno.     

"I hope our politics is more mature than that, the message of our struggle should be strengthened so that Islam will always be in our hearts," he said.     

Ibrahim said he came to meet Hasan to show his support for Hasan's struggle for Islam.     

"The sacking of Hasan should not happen in a party which is supposed to be struggling for Islam.

"In an Islamic party, there should always be discussions and consultations. This is not a small issue as it involves principles," Ibrahim said.    

- Bernama