By Yow Hong Chieh
KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 1 — Voters will reject PAS and make it the biggest loser in the coming election for supporting unIslamic PKR and DAP leaders, Datuk Dr Hasan Ali has said.
The former PAS leader said the Islamist party’s association with “immoral” PKR leaders Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali as well as DAP’s Karpal Singh will cause voters to abandon it in droves.
He warned that this will make PAS “the most unfortunate opposition pact party” as the party was no longer able to bear the “burden” placed upon it, especially by the many accusations of improper behaviour hurled at Anwar and Azmin.
“Anwar is a burden on PAS. Azmin too is a burden on PAS. Karpal Singh, who has all this while clearly rejected the Islamic state and hudud, is a burden on PAS...,” he told Berita Minggu in an interview.
“PAS can no longer carry this burden on its shoulders. I’m confident that in the 13th general election this burden will be... factored in by the voters. I think on that basis they will reject PAS.”
Hasan said Azmin had yet to clarify how he and his wife allegedly ended up with RM8.5 billion in shares, which Umno claimed was acquired in the 1990s when the Gombak MP was working as an aide for the then-deputy prime minister Anwar.
“This thing has been going on for nearly 20 years but Azmin... has not been able to give an answer,” he claimed.
“He has deliberately not answered as he knows the details that will emerge can be tied to other personalities, including PKR’s top leadership.
“Azmin knows that if the true story is made known to the public, his chances of rising up and assuming control of PKR will be jeopardised.”
Azmin has dismissed the allegations as baseless lies propagated by his Barisan Nasional (BN) enemies.
Hasan added today it was all too easy for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to dismiss all claims of impropriety as Umno slander, calling it a “psychological disease” and a “cliché” that the public had grown tired of.
“Himpun was said to be a tool of Umno. Jati has been linked to the Umno agenda. My roadshow (was said to be) a front for Umno. Every development that is not in line with their desires and thinking they assume is Umno twisting the fact.
“I guess when a child betrays his mother they will also blame Umno... This disease has spread to all parts of the opposition,” he said... Their only lifeline is to blame Umno for everything,” he said.
Hasan was axed from PAS on January 8 for urging opposition supporters to avoid a rally held the next day in support of Anwar as his sodomy trial verdict was handed down.
He was later removed as Selangor state executive councillor for religious affairs, Malay customs, infrastructure and public amenities.
Hasan then set up Jati to defend Islam, Malay special rights and Malay Rulers. He has described the NGO as a “third force” which would help determine who should form the next government.
Selangor PAS deputy chief Khalid Samad said on Friday Hasan was not leading a “third force” but was instead working as an “Umno contractor”.
The Shah Alam MP claimed Hasan was planning to field nine candidates via Jati in the coming polls to split the opposition vote in seats contested by PAS.