Duo to face PAS top guns

(The Star) – PAS leadership will call embattled leaders Datuk Dr Hasan Ali and Nasharudin Mat Isa to explain their recent outbursts and criticisms against the party.

Its secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said the two would be informed of the meeting by information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

He said president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang would be present to hear their explanations, mostly on their dissatisfaction over the party leadership.

“This session is important because we want to know why and what are they not satisfied about.

“An explanation is also necessary to clear the air. It is not good to wash dirty linen in public,” Mustafa said in an interview yesterday.

Mustafa added that Selangor PAS information chief Saari Sungib would also be called to explain his statement that Dr Hasan would be dropped from the candidate list for the next general election.

He, however, said no date had been fixed for Dr Hasan, Nasharudin and Saari to meet the party leadership but stressed that it would have to be carried out soonest.

“We are going to face the general election soon. It is best we focus our energy and efforts to ensure victory for Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

Asked if action would be taken against the three, particularly Dr Hasan and Nasharudin, Mustafa sidestepped the issue, saying what was important for the party now was to listen to what the two disgruntled members had to say.

At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur later, Mustafa challenged Dr Hasan to explain if a “clandestine meeting” had taken place during the fasting month.

He claimed that apart from Dr Hasan, Nasharudin and “at least three others” had also attended the meeting held at a hotel in the city.

“I want to ask him what was discussed? Was it an economic project, politics or is it both?” he asked.

Former PAS deputy president Nasharudin and Dr Hasan, who is Selangor exco and former state commissioner, have been under fire from party colleagues over the past several weeks.