Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) has instructed its secretaries in six state chapters to lodge police reports over the hacking of their phone accounts to send false SMSes.

Amanah secretary general Mohd Anuar Tahir when contacted told Malaysiakini the numbers of its state level secretaries in Federal Territories, Selangor, Perak, Perlis, Pahang and Kelantan were hacked to send out messages related to "(questions on) membership and insults against certain persons".

The message sighted by Malaysiakini was a survey claimed to be from Amanah, asking people how they felt about them and if they were willing to join the party.

"The SMS were sent to PAS members. Therefore it could cause misunderstandings," he said.

He said the leaders concerned had only learned of the matter after those who had received the fake messages from their phones contacted them.

"We had publicised the affected numbers of the secretaries earlier on the internet and in circulars to help receive inquiries about the party," he added.

"There are quarters who are jealous of Amanah, and have spread falsehoods about us.

"Those people (responsible for the fake SMS) are uncivilised," he said.

Amanah members undaunted

Mohd Anuar added these tactics are aimed at blocking the new party's penetration especially at divisional level.

However, he said, such tricks would not dampen the spirit of party workers in reaching out to the people.

"This isn't the first time such a case has happened. As a new party, we are aware of the risks we are forced to face, in our efforts to position Amanah in the nation's political arena," he said.

Since it was officially set up in August, Amanah, a breakaway party from PAS, has received over 50,000 applications for membership.

Kelantan, PAS' stronghold, has the largest figure of 12,000 applicants.

It has also received over a thousand applications from non-Muslims.