PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said that embattled central committee member Hasan Ali does not have all the support he claims to have, extending his advice to Hasan to distance himself from the dispute.

During a press conference at the party’s headquarters today, Mustapa denied Hasan’s claim that he has the overwhelming support of the grassroots as well as party leaders.

Hasan insisted that he has the backing of Ulama wing chief Harun Taib and Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan, while spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is holding to a “neutral” stance in the matter.

“Last night, we had a political bureau meeting, the Ulama and Youth representatives were there and they are not backing him (Hasan)... maybe it was only the newspapers who said that they are supportive of him,” said Mustafa.

“The strength of PAS lies in the cooperation of the Ulama and professional factions and this is why after all this years PAS has thrived,” he said.

He also said that he had forgiven Hasan for describing him as arrogant but when he criticised PAS, only the party can decide on what follows next.

Hasan has been called on by the party to explain his controversial remarks against PAS, saying that it has deviated from its Islamic principles in adopting the welfare state concept.

“ Negara Kebajikan (welfare state) is a strategy that PAS has decided to follow. It is not a shift in policy,” Mustafa explained.

Former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and Selangor information chief Saari Sungib are also being hauled in.

Nasharudin had said that the party has strayed from its Islamic principles for political mileage, while Saari was quick to say that the embattled Hasan would not be selected as a candidate in the coming general election without consulting party leaders.

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