Pua: DAP chooses ‘small’ Amanah over ‘backstabber’ PAS

(Malay Mail Online) – Tony Pua delivered a scathing attack on PAS today, saying that the DAP will choose “small” Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) any time over the Islamist party whom he called “backstabbers”.

The Selangor DAP chairman said he believes and trusts that Amanah will receive more public support than PAS in the next two to three years, especially in the west coast and Johor in the peninsula.

“I ask delegates today, do we want to have a pact with a party with integrity although it is small at the moment, or with a more established party that can stab our backs at any time?”

“Ladies and gentlemen, do we choose Amanah or do we choose PAS?” Pua asked delegates at the chapter’s ordinary convention today.

His question was replied by a chorus of “Amanah!” from the crowd.

Pua also listed several occasions where he said PAS had failed the DAP in Selangor, including its lack of support for PKR and DAP executive councillors sacked by then-mentri besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim during the mentri besar crisis last year.

He pointed out that PAS had also rejected Pakatan Rakyat’s suggestion to nominate PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as Selangor mentri besar.

Amanah was founded by PAS splinter group Harapan Baru, comprising former progressive PAS leaders who were ousted from their party posts during the internal party elections earlier this year.

“Selangor and national DAP have full trust in these Malay figures who took a very courageous decision to form a new party based on the principles of progressive, moderate and inclusive Islam,” said Pua.

Former allies PAS and DAP became openly hostile over their disagreement on hudud, the Islamic penal code, eventually leading to the breakup of Pakatan Rakyat in June.