THE HASAN ALI CONTROVERSIES

In 2008, Dr Hasan had tried to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages at convenience stores in neighbourhoods, where 90% of the residents were Muslims. However, his attempt to impose the ban in Selangor was rejected by state Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim. In August last year, Dr Hasan supported the decision by Selangor Religious Department (Jais) to inspect a multi-racial dinner held at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church in Petaling Jaya. He alleged that there was evidence of “proselytising of Muslims by nonMuslims”. > Despite PAS leaders distancing themselves from the event, Dr Hasan defied party orders and attended the Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Gathering of a Million Faithful Muslims) assembly, aimed at defending Islam against threats of apostasy in October last year. > Dr Hasan claimed that Jais had found a solar-powered “hand-held audio Bible” that was used to spread Christianity during a state assembly meeting in November last year. He alleged that Jais had also uncovered several efforts by the Christian community to convert Muslims by setting up welfare groups, giving financial aid and other forms of assistance to single mothers, the poor and the elderly. > Dr Hasan claimed that he had wide support for PAS to return to the “original struggle” of the party to form an Islamic state, instead of a welfare state, as endorsed by party leaders. He said the shift in focus was due to the tie-up with PKR and DAP, which he described as the “main stumbling block” to the creation of an Islamic state. > During the past New Year’s Eve weekend, Dr Hasan joined a Jais raid called Ops Mungkar to catch Muslims consuming alcohol at various drinking spots, including those in major hotels, in Mutiara Damansara and Petaling Jaya. The raids saw action being taken against 41 Muslims − 18 of whom were caught consuming alcohol − an offence under Selangor’s syariah law. In another act of defiance, Dr Hasan said he would not be attending the Free Anwar 901 rally, which is expected to take place today. He has also named PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat or party president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang as his choice for Pakatan Rakyat’s candidate for Prime Minister, adding that a country’s leader should have “good moral standing”.