Hasan says Azmin’s attacks a ploy to oust MB Khalid

(The Malaysian Insider) – Sacked Selangor executive councillor Datuk Hasan Ali said today Azmin Ali’s recent attacks on him are an attempt to topple Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The former state PAS chief said the PKR deputy president’s attacks over RM850,000 in expenses incurred by the former state PAS chief while in office were in fact “an attack on the credibility of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.”

Hasan, who was sacked from the party and state government in January for continuously attacking Pakatan Rakyat (PR) for not respecting Islam, Malays and the royalty, said the Selangor PKR chief was trying to “kill two birds with one stone.”

He said that it is widely “understood” that Azmin has been trying to oust Khalid, an allegation that the Gombak MP has strenuously denied.

“It is likely true that the mentri besar is the first bird and Hasan Ali is the second,” he told a press conference at his home.

The Gombak Setia assemblyman also insisted his expenses while in office of least RM850,000 that was questioned last week by Azmin Ali were all approved by the state government.

He said Azmin’s accusations made in the state assembly on Friday were in bad faith as he had already explained them before.

Azmin accused Hasan of spending RM300,000 to renovate his office, RM550,000 for a Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corp (Padat) conference when he chaired the state body and bypassing open tenders for road maintenance contracts when he was exco for infrastructure and public amenities.

But Hasan said the Gombak MP “has no locus standi to question my credibility” as the latter has also not explained various financial and personal allegations.

Khalid said on Saturday the state administration would not take action against Hasan over his expenses “as it follows treasury procedures.”

Hasan was sacked from the party on January 8 after urging opposition supporters to avoid a rally the next day in support of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as his sodomy trial verdict was handed down.

He was later also removed as state exco for religious affairs, Malay customs, infrastructure and public amenities.