PAS Selangor commissioner Hasan Ali today broke his silence over the secret meeting he attended with former state menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo immediately after the March 8 general elections.

hasan ali umno pas selangor talk quality hotel 300708 05 It was reported that the meeting took place hours after the election results came out but Hassan told Malaysiakini that he “could not remember” when it was held.

Asked if he was offered the menteri besar post during the meeting, he replied: "There was no concrete offer. Maybe there was a proposal from Umno to give the MB post, but I went there just to listen."

I was there to listen (to what Umno had to say) because I was invited (to the meeting)," he said, adding that the discussion did not "delve deeply into such matters".

Met in Shah Alam today, Hasan also stressed that he did not respond to any such offer.

"The offer never came to me - there was none. We never negotiated up to that level,” he insisted.

He added that even if such an offer was made, it would not be in his power to either accept or refuse, as that decision lies with the PAS scholars’ consultative council and central committee.

"I cannot make any judgement as this is up to the party leadership,” he said.

Reiterating that there was no deal stitched between the two rival parties, Hasan said, “For me, the issue is closed.”

Hasan, who is also Selangor exco member, said he was not involved in the next round of talks with Khir Toyo and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as he was replaced by PAS commissioner Khalid Samad.

“Khalid discussed issues (with them) pertaining Selangor. If I had attended the meeting, it would be a conflict of interests,” he said.

At this second meeting - held two or three days after the March 8 polls - Umno had apparently offered the menteri besar, deputy menteri besar and four state exco posts to PAS.

This meeting was attended by Khir, Abdullah, PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, PAS Terengganu commissioner Mustafa Ali and Khalid.

Selangor - which was considered a Barisan Nasional stronghold - fell into opposition hands after the elections.

Since then, PAS and Umno have held discussions on the possibility of forming a coalition to jointly rule the state.

PAS to discuss issue tomorrow

Last week, the prime minister confirmed that BN was pursuing a power-sharing deal with PAS through a series of meetings.

Hasan said although he expected talks like these to take place, the party is still committed to strengthening its position in Pakatan Rakyat with DAP and PKR.

“Nothing is without imperfections. These kinds of things happen during the period of adjustment when three different component parties have not gotten used to working together.”

However, DAP leader Karpal Singh did not share Hasan's view in a statement released last week, saying the PAS-Umno talks was 'an act of bad faith' towards DAP and PKR.

Hasan further explained that the Islamic party would clear the issue of PAS-Umno talks with its members at a central committee meeting tomorrow.

"This is one way to handle the matter as members are having doubts (about these talks) because there are some who are angry with us and are not sure about the party's position,” he said.