KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Just days old, the country’s newest political entity Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) gained 443 new members today, including a number who jumped straight from conservative Islamist PAS.

Citing Johor Amanah deputy chief, national newswire Bernama reported the largest membership at 131 to be from Gelang Patah, a federal seat currently represented by its DAP ally Lim Kit Siang.

The breakdown for the remaining members are from the parliamentary constituencies of Johor Baru and Pulai with 100 each; Pasir Gudang (62) and Tebrau (50).

“Their decision to join PAN is to continue the people’s hope conveyed through Pakatan Rakyat in the last 13th general election,” Dzulkefly, a former Kuala Selangor MP, was quoted by Bernama as telling a news conference in Johor Baru today.

He was also quoted saying the new Islamist party touting itself an alternative to the PAS opposition will form five committees to manage each parliamentary seat in the southern state to draw more new members.

Amanah is a breakaway of PAS, consisting of former leaders from the 64-year-old party’s progressive faction that were defeated in its June internal polls.

The leaders have openly declared their support for a new political partnership with DAP and PKR to go toe-to-toe with the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in the next national elections due in 2018.