PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar today criticised the “hysterical” Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek, saying he must be cool and not be jumpy over the opposition’s allegation that the ministry was said to allocate RM30 million to finance Hasan Ali’s Jati programme.

ahmad shabery cheek 041108 02 “Shabery ( right ) must be cool and not be jumpy. Next time when we meet in parliament, I will bring a headache tablet for him,” he said in jest.

Mahfuz said a minister should not threaten to sue but give an explanation and be prepared to have an independent audit to ensure transparency.

“If he wants to sue, then sue. Find a good lawyer and we will meet in court,” said the Pokok Sena MP.

Quizzed about Hasan, who is said to be considering suing him, Mahfuz said he is puzzled as this involves the ministry and not the NGO Jati’s allocation.

Shabery had earlier said his ministry would not hesitate in taking legal action against Mahfuz, who is the Pokok Sena MP, for making the allegation.

"The ministry may file a suit against the PAS vice-president if he continues to make the allegation," today's issue of Sinar Harian quotes the minister as saying.

"Mahfuz's claim that the ministry is sponsoring Hasan's Melayu Jalur Tiga (Jati) group for its 2,000 talks nationwide for RM30 million is outrageous. I think Mahfuz understands there are a lot of procedures involved if we were to do this," the minister was quoted as saying.

The New Straits Times also reported today that Shabery questioned where Mahfuz got his story from.

This also showed, the paper quotes Shabery as saying, "that PAS is worried, as it cannot resolve the Kedah crisis" and the party was therefore trying to look for scapegoats.

Last Friday, Mahfuz said the Strategy Unit of the Youth and Sports Ministry has collected an allocation of RM30 million, part of which may go to fund the programmes around the country to be carried out by Hasan's Jati.

Mahfuz went on to demand a full audit into the establishment of the unit by the ministry.

Hasan has also threatened to sue Mahfuz for making the allegation and called Mahfuz a tool of the "PAS parasites".