901 rally: PKR says Hasan repeating Umno script

PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali has slammed Selangor Islamic affairs exco member Hasan Ali for discouraging Pakatan supporters to join the ‘901 Free Anwar’ rally planned for Monday.

“Hasan Ali is blind in sight and blind at heart. He can only repeat Umno’s script.

“While he reviles Anwar, Nik Aziz was busy welcoming him to Kota Baru at 5pm,” Azmin (left) tweeted yesterday, in reference to the rally planned for the day PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim faces his sodomy trial verdict.

The tweets did not refer specifically to any particular statement of Hasan's, but Azmin is seen as referring to Hasan’s public opposition to the rally outside the Duta court complex in Kuala Lumpur.

The judge in the long-drawn Sodomy II trial is due to deliver his findings then.

Hasan said taking part in the rally would be against his conscience and because it revolved around only one person.

Meanwhile, responding to Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s tweet suggesting that the Selangor menteri besar should sack Hasan from the state executive council, Azmin tweeted back: “Is Umno ready to accept him?”

Hasan, a former Selangor PAS commissioner, at his press conference yesterday also questioned why only the Selangor PAS commissioner had issued a directive instructing party members to attend the rally and not the Islamic party’s central party leadership.

He went on to propose that Nik Aziz  be prime minister should Anwar be jailed and Pakatan Rakyat comes to power in the coming polls.

However, if the PAS spiritual leader’s age was of concern, then PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang could be a suitable candidate.
 
This is because both candidates were capable and well qualified, Hasan said, adding that the choice of leaders should be based on their government and international track records, as well as their family background.

‘Hasan’s views not party’s’

On a related development, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu said Hasan’s views were his personal stance on the matter and did not reflect PAS’ official position.

“He is still a PAS central committee member, he can present his proposals at committee meetings. He is a PAS internal channel.

“PAS will table his suggestions at the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council. The resolutions of that meeting will be the official position of the coalition.

“Our system is the party system, not the individual system,” Mohamad, who is widely known as Mat Sabu (left), said when contacted by Malaysiakini yesterday evening.

Mat Sabu said it would be better if Hasan channelled his proposals through the party, rather than through public announcements.

As for the Gombak Setia assemblyperson’s decision not to attend the ‘Free Anwar’ rally because there was no written instruction from the party, he said it was Hasan’s prerogative.

“Those are his wishes. The president and I will be there... so far, there isn’t any written directive from the party.

“If the president and the deputy president are going, that means the members can attend as well,” Mat Sabu added.

'DAP did not send out SMSes'

Meanwhile, DAP Publicity deputy secretary Teo Nie Ching has denied that the party has sent out SMSes discouraging public from participating in the assembly.
 
Teo, who is also member parliament of Serdang, said she suspected either the police or BN are behind the act of “sabotaging” the rally.
 
Some members of the public had complained they had received Chinese SMSes allegedly sent by DAP, calling on the public to boycott the rally.
 
Teo said the SMSes carried bad intentions, and are also meant  to harm the good relationship between Pakatan parties.
 
“DAP has not issue any directive over the 901 Free Anwar rally, the people and members are free to decide themselves,” said Teo.
 
Teo also confirmed that party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will be present at the rally.


Related stories

PKR urges PAS to take action against Hasan

Anwar super confident of Putrajaya takeover

'Interim PM' while I'm in jail, says Anwar

If Ku Li can be PM, why can't I, jests Azmin

Christian 'covert' task force targeting Malays

Bishop fears Hasan is upping the ante