PETALING JAYA: Parti Amanah Negara could be making a big mistake by being dependant on DAP for political and financial support, said an MCA central committee member.

Amanah, said Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, consisted of leaders that Malaysians would be most comfortable with as they are Islamic and Malay intelligentsia.

They are seen to be more rational than emotional in their engagement for support, he added.

“Ironically in politics, the best does not always win.

“They lost to their conservatives in their internal fight with the clerics in PAS andthey will not see much light if they depended on DAP for votes.

“Even PKR’s strongman merely appeared at the eleventh hour to grace the (by-election) contest (in Sungai Besar).

“This perception of dependency is a political taboo amongst the Malays that even a strong party like PAS and a strong personality like (former Opposition leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim cannot stomach.

“What more a breakaway party from PAS whose political credibility has yet to be established.

“Furthermore, their president is seen to be beholden to the DAP or the Penang government,” said Ti in a statement yesterday.

Barisan won with increased majorities in both the parliamentary by-elections which ended on Saturday.

Ti also said that PAS’ insistence on pushing hudud would not sync well with the Muslim moderates and non-Muslim electorates, adding it would only bring the Islamist party to the “backwaters of politics” strictly confined to Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.

-The Star-