Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) supporters need not be alarmed by a recent survey which found voters are more familiar with newly-formed Umno splinter party Party Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) than with Amanah, which was formed last year.

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu said this referring to the findings of Selangor think-tank Institut Darul Ehsan which was presented yesterday.

Mohamad, who is also known as Mat Sabu, said the PAS splinter party is doing much better than the veteran party PAS, which as late as the 13th general election still had candidates who lost their deposits.

Having struggled with PAS since 1978, he added that there are lessons to be learnt from PAS' growth after it split from Umno in the 1950s.

He said PAS had for the longest time found it difficult to break through in the southern and central regions of Selangor.

And yet, it won 15 seats in the state when it joined hands with Pakatan Rakyat and reached out to non-Muslim voters.

"I have 38 years of experience growing with an Islamist party and am now leading Amanah with other colleagues.

"I view that Amanah is more rapid and it is far better received by the people, especially in the southern states.

"This is what the people want, be it Muslims or non-Muslims," he said in a statement.

He said Amanah's growth also eclipses that of previous splinter parties like Umno splinter Semangat 46 which closed shop after two polls despite being led by former cabinet ministers.

"Amanah supporters, don't grow wary over interim analysis by various parties because we are based on an ideology, we are contemporary and inclusive and can stay strong and grow regardless of the election results," he said.