Sunday September 6, 2009
Selangor Ruler summons Hasan over beer issue
By CHRISTINA TAN
SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has summoned executive councillor Datuk Dr Hasan Ali to the palace to explain various issues including allowing mosque officials to “detain” Muslims drinking alcohol.
Dr Hasan entered Istana Bukit Kayangan here at 11.50am Saturday and left at 2.25pm without speaking to reporters.
Efforts to contact the Selangor PAS commissioner were unsuccessful.
Selangor Government public relations officer Ginie Lim said Dr Hasan sought an audience with the Sultan.
Besides allowing mosque officials to “detain” Muslims caught drinking alcohol, Lim said that other issues discussed were sale of alcohol in the state, matters related to Dr Hasan’s portfolio of Infrastructure and Public amenities, and Malay Culture and Islamic Affairs.
The Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Moh-mad Munir Bani, said the audience was “a normal meeting” to discuss daily issues.
It was reported earlier that Dr Hasan had, without the Sultan’s consent, given powers to mosque officials to “detain” Muslims who consume alcohol in public.
Dr Hasan was quoted as saying that he was confident the Sultan would grant consent because the move was for the good of Muslims in Selangor.
He had also said he would seek an audience with the Sultan.
State PAS committee member and Shah Alam MP Khalid Abd Samad said as far as he knew, the audience between the state party chairman and the Sultan was mainly on the alcohol issue and not on the Hindu temple controversy.
Asked if he was backing Dr Hasan on the control of the sale of alcoholic drinks and plans to empower the mosque officials, he said it was a matter of preference and that more emphasis should be given on education rather than enforcement.
He said much could be done to educate Muslims on alcohol consumption, citing religious classes, social campaigns and Friday sermons.
“Otherwise, it is like putting the cart before the horse,” he added.
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