PAS deputy mursyidul am (spiritual leader) Haron Din, who is said to be close to former Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali, has urged him to appeal his sacking.

pas muktamar 070609 harun din 02 "Hasan is still given space to stay with PAS," Malay daily Sinar Harian quoted him as saying.

Haron (right) is the No 2 in the syura council, the highest decision- making body led by spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

It will hear Hasan's appeal if he files one.

Former deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and ulama chief Harun Taib also sit in the council.

The trio has been seen as supportive of Hasan over his dispute with the party leadership led by president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Both Hadi and Nik Aziz, who are said to be supportive of stern action against Hasan, will have to recuse themselves from hearing Hasan's appeal as they were part of the central committee which decided on the expulsion.

Haron reportedly also said Hasan should wait for his letter of termination from the central committee before filing an appeal.

Hasan ali pc "I personally want Hasan to appeal," he said, adding that Hasan (left) can still defend himself through the syura council.

The senior religious scholar pointed out that the expulsion could serve to educate all members to be more prudent in making statements.

"It’s not that we cannot voice (our views), but we should not go against the party.

“If it is something small, it can be forgiven, but if it jeopardises the party, there will be no warning or reprimand but direct expulsion. This is because such actions can cause problems to the party.”

‘Hard to replace Hasan’

The central committee expelled Hasan during a meeting last Sunday after he openly criticised the party leadership and policies.

NONE The disheartened Hasan blamed his sacking on his refusal to support Anwar Ibrahim (right) in the sodomy trial, claiming this to be contrary to PAS’ stance.

Apart from Haron, central committee member Che Rosli Che Mat also told Sinar Harian that Hasan should remain in PAS.

"I don't see that anyone else can replace him in his post. Maybe many are more knowledgeable than Hasan but his courage and firmness will be hard to replace," said the Hulu Langat MP.

Che Rosli had himself once created controversy by openly supporting the Lynas Advanced Material Plant project, to which PAS and Pakatan leaders have expressed strong objections.

 

However, Che Rosli said the sacking will not affect the party.

Harun, an influential religious scholar, was quoted in Utusan Malaysia as saying that he hopes the sacking did not happen.

However, he said he accepts the party's decision with an open heart, also denying that the sacking was related in any way to Anwar’s situation.