S'gor PAS now warms up to Khusrin

Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali has admitted to issues over the appointment Mohammed Khusrin Munawi as state secretary, but now believes that these can be overcome.

He said he himself had faced some problems when working with Khusrin while the latter headed the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department.

"My relationship while working with Khusrin was at two levels. When we made policies, he implemented them. Here there was no problem," said Hasan (extreme right in photo).

"The problem was that, in implementation, he had his own approach to issues which was different from ours."

At a press conference at his service centre in Gombak today, Hasan said such issues could be overcome with proper consultation and by keeping the lines of communication open.

"Maybe it is easier for me to work with Khusrin as I have experience in government," he said.

Hasan said the row over Khusrin's appointment as state secretary did not have as much to do with the individual as with the fact that convention was not followed.

"The chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan can choose whoever he wants as Selangor secretary, but he must follow the convention.

"It might not be stated in law, but by convention the state must be consulted when the state secretary is appointed.

“During my time in the federal government I know that (the appointee for ministry secretary-general) is submitted for approval to the minister in question. This is convention.”

Hasan cautioned the state government against launching a personal attack against Khusrin (left) as this “may not be fair and can cause problems with the 28,000 civil servants in the state”.

"If they picket, we may be in trouble," he warned after being approached by Malaysiakini following the press conference.

'Shuhaimi should apologise'

In the same vein, he said Khusrin should acclimatise himself with the mood and position of the state government in which he works, so as not to create conflicts.

On the matter of PKR's Sri Muda state assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafiei (right) who faces investigation over his remarks relating to the Khusrin appointnment controversy, Hasan said the former should apologise if he had offended certain parties.

"He (Khusrin) is a young man, unlike me with my white hair... So he may have a different temperament.

"I think in his posting he may have offended certain parties. I shall meet with him later and I shall advise him to apologise. Knowing him, I am sure he will.

"It is the media which is churning up the issue," said Hasan.

Gag order confirmed

Hasan also confirmed that Selangor PAS has imposed a gag order on all state party leaders not to comment on the Khusrin issue as it was deemed to be sensitive.

"We have instructed our leaders not to comment on the matter. This is the only official stand of Selangor PAS on this issue.

"Any statement by PAS leaders on this matter is their personal view and  not the view of the party."

Hasan also said the state PAS wholly supported the Selangor government's decision to amend the state constitution to restore the power of the state and the sultan in the appointment of state executives.

Asked about Umno's opposition to the amendment, he urged the Malay party to debate the matter during the emergency sitting of the state legislature on Jan 24 .

"Are they only berkokok (crowing) to get the attention of the public? Show up and debate if they really care. After all, we are restoring the power of the royalty,” he argued.

"If they are absent, I believe that their mentality still harkens back to 1992 and 1993, and the rakyat will see them for what they are.”

Toe the line, PAS sec-gen tells Hasan Ali