SHAH ALAM, Sept 16 ― Malaysia’s newest political baby, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) kicked off its highly-publicised launch today by laying out its plans to take over PAS’ stronghold states, and which leaders of the two-week old party believe will be able to register 100,00 members by the end of the year.
Amanah secretary-general Anuar Tahir said that the party currently had 30,018 members as of yesterday, and that the bulk of its membership came from three states- Kelantan, Johor and Selangor.
“Kelantan Darul Naim is the number one state where people have registered.
“Johor is the second highest state in which people have joined Amanah followed by Selangor,” Anuar said in his speech which was met by a thunderous applause from the 4,000-plus attendees here.
Kelantan has traditionally been PAS’ stronghold state, with the Islamist party running the state government for more than 20 years.
Though he made no reference to PAS, Anuar said that the “extraordinary” support for Amanah came from people who rejected any kind of extreme thinking.
“The support for Amanah is backed by those who love peace and reject authoritarianism,” he said.
Present at the launch were PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah DAP national political education director Liew Chin Tong, PKR elections director Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.
Amanah was made an official political party on August 31, founded by PAS splinter group Gerakan Harapan Baru (HB) made up of former progressive PAS leaders ousted of their party posts in the party elections earlier this year.
Amanah, which was established by HB’s taking over of previously dormant Malaysian Workers’ Party, aims to secure 35,000 members by the end of this month.
Its member claim that they are intent on presenting a more universal and inclusive form of Islam in Malaysian politics as a counterpoint to their former party’s conservative take on the religion.
SOURCE: The Malay Mail