Hassan Ali has DAP caught between a rock and a harder place

(The Malaysian Insider) SHAH ALAM, Aug 26 — Datuk Dr Hassan Ali’s decision to empower mosque officials to arrest Muslims caught drinking or even selling alcohol is putting their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners, particularly the secular DAP, in a spot.

The executive councillor in charge of Islamic affairs said two days ago imans and bilals would be allowed to arrest and carry out raids at convenience stores under the Selangor Criminal Syariah Enactment 1995.

The state Pas commissioner’s announcement came as a surprise to his PR partners because the dust has barely settled over his call to ban the sale of beer in Muslim majority areas.

The issue was finally settled only after the mentri besar called on convenience stores in Muslim majority areas to practice self regulation.

However the controversial call was used by Barisan Nasional (BN) to lure non-Muslims during campaigning in the Permatang Pasir by-election.

A DAP MP who chose to remain anonymous said Hassan’s latest decision is going to hurt the party and PR as a whole.

He said DAP was caught between a rock and a very hard place.

“To slam Hassan’s decision would open ourselves to criticisms that we are anti-Islam, which we are not, but to remain silent would attract attacks that we are not fighting for people’s fundamental rights.”

His exco colleague Ean Yong Hian Wah also confirmed yesterday that Hassan’s call was a unilateral decision which he did not discuss at the weekly exco meetings.

“We will discuss the matter during the Exco meeting tomorrow.” Said the state DAP chairman yesterday.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said everybody respected the fact that Muslims should not consume alcohol but he pointed out that Hassan’s move would hurt Malaysia’s image of being a progressive country.

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