Cold response to calls for Hasan’s removal

Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge 

Klang member of parliament (MP) Charles Santiago’s recent call for the removal of Selangor state executive council (exco) member Datuk Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali appears to have received little support from Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen as the coalition seeks to quell a perceived internal rift.

When contacted on Sept 23, Hasan’s exco colleagues Ean Yong Hian Wah and Ronnie Liu declined to comment on the suggestion that Hasan be removed as Selangor PAS commissioner and exco member for criticising the assembly’s Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat).

Liu, who is DAP’s Pandamaran assemblyman, said the Selangor exco would discuss the matter internally “for better understanding” and to avoid “creating unnecessary impact”.

Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M Manoharan said “such drastic action” should not be taken against Hasan as differences of opinion did not warrant the removal of an exco member.

“Removing an exco should only be done if there was a great blunder with disastrous consequences,” Manoharan said.

Hasan, who chairs the Selangor Islamic affairs, Malay culture, infrastructure and public amenities committee, had criticised Selcat for “grilling” district officers during its public inquiry into state allocations spending by assemblymen.

Santiago told The Edge Financial Daily on Sept 23 that Hasan should not have questioned Selcat’s procedure or protect the district officers who claimed they were publicly humiliated by its inquiry.
 
“So my recommendation was that there was a need to discipline Hasan  and anybody else who plays the race game. Anybody who wants to be the champion of race issues or beer issues has to be disciplined,” Santiago said.

The Klang MP also accused Hasan of portraying himself as the “protector or hero of Malays” in Selangor.

“Hasan Ali either doesn’t understand or is willfully undermining the separation of powers between the executive and legislature.

“So my recommendation was that there was a need to discipline Hasan Ali and anybody else who plays the race game. Anybody who wants to be the champion of race issues or beer issues has to be disciplined,” Santiago said.

Earlier, Hasan had locked horns with Liu over the open sale of alcoholic beverages in Selangor, with the former demanding a blanket ban on alcohol sales in retail stores in Muslim-majority areas.

Meanwhile, PAS assemblyman Saari Sungib and DAP’s Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee both said Hasan should be first referred to the assembly’s privileges committee for the latter’s public statements.

DAP’s Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee, who is part of Selcat’s committee, said it was more proper for PAS to discipline Hasan if necessary. “We have not heard his (Hasan’s) side of the story and it’s not fair to comment,” Lee said. Hasan could not be reached for comment as at press time.