PAS Youth secretary Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed Hassan’s contract was not renewed because the mufti had objected to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s orders regarding the use of the word “Allah”.
In December 2014, Guan Eng issued a statement allowing non-Muslims in Penang to use the word “Allah”. However the mufti said this violated Section 48 of the state Administration of the Religion of Islam Enactment 2004.
In a statement issued on his Facebook page, Afnan said: “It is believed that after the fatwa on the word ‘Allah’, Lim Guan Eng demanded the religious executive committee issue an order that all fatwas be made known in an executive committee meeting before being presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“Hassan, who was the mufti at the time, objected to that order.”
Afnan alleged that because of Hassan’s objection, his contract was not renewed and he was replaced by Dr Wan Salim, the current mufti.
Hassan was the mufti of Penang from 1997.