Mahfuz is joining Amanah three months after terminating his 34-year membership with PAS.
Mahfuz, who had openly questioned the PAS leadership since its party elections in 2015, said he had been a Pakatan Harapan (PH)-friendly MP since the coalition was set up last year.
“I left PAS after the party’s flip-flops, especially on their future plans. Now they are seen as Barisan Nasional (BN)-friendly,” he said at a press conference outside the Dewan Rakyat.
Also present were Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and other PH leaders including DAP’s Teresa Kok and PKR’s Wong Chen.
Amanah was formed as a PAS splinter in September 2015.
Mahfuz said many PAS members had voiced their support for Amanah ahead of the coming polls, although they were not ready to leave the Islamist party.
His own decision to leave PAS at the end of last year came as no surprise, although he previously said that one did not need to leave his party to show support for PH.
Later, during a press conference, Mahfuz said he joined Amanah as it had sacrificed the most in the PH seat distribution process for the 14th general election (GE14).
“It is only right for me to be with a party that has sacrificed a lot.”
Asked on which seat he plans to contest in, he said: “My intention in joining Amanah is to help PH wins the general election.”
Meanwhile, Rosli, who was a PAS committee member, said he joined Amanah as it was part of the bigger PH coalition.
The former Bank Negara deputy manager added that he supported Amanah’s vision to bring the country forward.