While former Selangor PAS commissioner Hasan Ali still has an avenue to appeal his sacking from the Islamic party, his chances of being reinstated, if at all, are very slim.

This is because, reports claim, the decision to sack him came from very senior leaders in the Islamic party.

If this is so, keeping the Gombak Setia assemblyperson out of PAS may be the party line that members must now toe.

hadi awang on hasan ali sacking 080112 "It was PAS president (Abdul Hadi Awang, right ) himself who insisted that Hasan be expelled," claimed blogger Abu Bakar Rashid in a blog posting yesterday.

This, he added, came despite an initial recommendation from the majority of the party's central working committee to suspend Hasan only for a period of between six and 15 months.

Bakar, popularly known by his moniker of Penarik Beca, is close to the top leadership of PAS and is said to be privy to the party's inner workings and internal politics.

Sources confirmed Bakar's speculation to Malaysiakini , adding that in a discussion prior to the central working committee meeting to decide Hasan's fate, PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat himself allegedly said that it was better to sack the former veep.

'Leaders felt betrayed'

The source speculated that the leaders may have felt betrayed by Hasan's continual flouting of the party line.

"They called him to Kota Baru and forgave him, but he turned around and did it again. Or maybe he promised them certain things, and then turned his back on them," said a source.

NONE When contacted about Hasan's chances if he were to appeal his sacking, PAS central working committee member Dzulkefly Ahmad ( left ) said the former Selangor commissioner may be able to sway the syura council, which is the body that will hear his appeal.

"He is known to have a way with words," the Kuala Selangor MP added.

Dzulkefly explained that central working committee members who sat in the meeting to decide Hasan's fate would have to recuse themselves from the syura council, if it convenes to hear Hasan's appeal.

However, he said, even if Hasan were to appeal and seek to return to the party fold, he should be clear about his ‘baiah' or loyalty to the party, something which Dzulkefly thinks no longer holds.

'Unanimous decision'

"I mean, to hear some of the things he said, it doesn't seem like he wants (to stay). He can join other PAS members who have been expelled, like Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad... that is up to him."

Dzulkefly admitted that in most cases, PAS members would usually toe the party line on issues on which the top leadership had reached consensus, such as the decision to sack Hasan.

Meanwhile, party deputy president Mohamad Sabu, when contacted, stressed that the unanimous decision of the central working committee on Sunday was that "action must be taken against Hasan" for his various transgressions against party discipline.

NONE However, Mohamad, who is widely known as Mat Sabu, clarified that there were many proposals from various individuals, ranging from sacking to suspension to referring Hasan to the disciplinary committee.

"And when they argued the case, the unanimous decision reached after a thorough discussion was to sack him," Mat Sabu told Malaysiakini .

However, the PAS number two reserved comment on what Hasan's chances could be if he were to appeal.

"Wallahua'lam (only God knows). I would not know... if the syura council is like the courts, we can never know."

Hasan has so far yet to state whether he would file an appeal with the syura council.

Backlash not expected

 

Asked if there was a possibility of a backlash from factions inside the Islamic party close to Hasan, Mat Sabu dismissed the matter.

"Of course, every person will have his friends (inside the party). But this is a normal matter for PAS, for we have gone through worse.

"A former president, Mohamad Asri Muda, was also sacked... so this is normal for the party," said the former Kubang Kerian MP.

This was also attested to by vice-president Mahfuz Omar, who told Malaysiakini that he was not aware of any such backlash.

Dzulkefly pointed out that Hasan's support base, if any, lay outside the party proper, as most party members would adhere to the party leadership decision on the sacking, with even a once vocal supporter, PAS Youth leader Nasruddin Hassan, bowing to the decision.

"I don't see any backlash. His support is among the rural Malays, like the anti-apostasy NGO Himpun and other gullible groups," Dzulkefly added.