Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) communications chief Khalid Samad has dismissed the argument that DAP's plan to contest in eight PAS-controlled seats in Selangor reflects a lack of confidence in its new coalition partner.

On the contrary, the Shah Alam MP said, it represented a lack of faith in PAS being able to retain the seats in the next general election.

Khalid was responding to PAS election director Mustafa Ali who claimed that DAP was making the move because it did not believe Amanah, a splinter of PAS, would be able to win the seats.

"If we seriously evaluate the DAP statement, I wouldn't say it shows a lack of confidence on DAP's part towards Amanah's ability. I would say it shows DAP has lost all confidence in PAS' ability," Khalid said.

He said this is because, based on the statements by PAS, DAP sees the Islamic party as having lost the votes and support of non-Malays.

PAS reminded of its GE11 fall

He also reminded PAS of what transpired during the 11th general election in 2004, where the party lost all the state seats it contested in Selangor.

"The attitude of being on its own, that PAS has now adopted PAS, may revive the 2004 scenario, where PAS and DAP did not have an electoral understanding.

"Therefore, if PAS contests in GE14, DAP is sure that the seats will fall to BN. To prevent this from happening, DAP has offered to contest the seats.

"This too, only if agreed by Pakatan Harapan," Khalid pointed out.

Last week, Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua ( photo ) revealed that the party has started laying the groundwork to contest the eight state seats.

"These are the eight seats that we believe we have significant influence in and will be able to win," Pua said, adding that the matter would be discussed among Pakatan parties.

The eight seats are Taman Templer, Lembah Jaya, Paya Jeras, Sri Serdang, Meru, Cempaka, Dusun Tua and Tanjung Sepat.

Elaborating on the matter, Khalid said DAP's public declaration was only a reactionary response to PAS for threatening to contest in DAP-held seats.

Khalid also believes that Amanah is the best suited in re-taking the seats won by PAS under the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, which is now defunct.

"Pakatan Rakyat may be over but the spirit and vision is carried on by Pakatan Harapan," he said.

Khalid also mocked pro-PAS bloggers who saw DAP's interest in the eight state seats now held by PAS as a "Chinese" attempt to take control of Selangor.

"I did not expect that pro-PAS authors were not confident of PAS' own strength in defending the eight seats from being wrested from DAP," he said.

Khalid said the bloggers should instead stop being agents of Umno by fanning racism.

He reiterated that there is no discussion yet on election seat allocations and when the time came, Amanah will surely seek to contest in PAS-held seats under the Pakatan Harapan coalition.