Parti Amanah Negara has dismissed claims that the party was backing DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as Pakatan Harapan’s candidate for prime minister.

“Only crazy people will believe such crazy lies,” said Amanah communications director Khalid Samad in a statement today.

He was responding to the claim which was made viral on social media.

Khalid described this as a “desperate attempt” by those who despise Amanah, a splinter party of PAS.

“The whole world is already aware that Pakatan Harapan, since its inception, unanimously decided that its candidate for prime minister will be Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

Khalid urged people not to be taken in by such allegations but said he anticipated more such attacks.

“This is due to envy toward Amanah which, in a short period of a few months, has succeeded in standing as equals with its Pakatan Harapan partner,” he said.

Amanah largely comprises former progressive forces in PAS who were purged from the party leadership by conservative hardliners last year.

The progressive forces were also increasingly disillusioned with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, who repeatedly overruled decisions made by Pakatan Rakyat, the predecessor of Pakatan Harapan.

This led to major disagreements in the old coalition, which ultimately disintegrated.

The newly-constituted Pakatan Harapan is comprised of PKR, DAP, and Amanah, which have set a strict framework to avoid similar disagreements that led to the demise of Pakatan Rakyat.

PAS has refused to work with Amanah, declaring the party as a sworn enemy. However, it maintains relations with PKR .