Kuala lumpur: PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has refuted allegations that Pakatan Harapan's (PH) manifesto for the 16th Johor State Election was plagiarized from other parties, asserting that it was formulated by the coalition's leadership over an extended period.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Amirudin emphasized that initiatives like affordable housing and healthcare assistance were meticulously planned by the PH leadership. "It is up to them to say whatever they want, but the data and facts clearly show that these are original ideas developed by the PH leadership after months of deliberation following indications that a state election would be held," he stated during the Jelajah Johor Ke Depan, Undi Harapan programme in Simpang Renggam.
The event saw the presence of several notable figures, including PKR vice-president R. Ramanan, Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil, and PH candidates for various state seats. Addressing criticisms regarding the feasibility of PH's affordable housing targets, Amirudin, who also holds the position of Selangor Menteri Besar, clarified that the targets were aligned with the prevailing needs of the populace. He highlighted that the Selangor state government had sanctioned the construction of 174,000 affordable housing units, with 40,000 already completed.
Amirudin explained, "We set a bold target because the need is substantial. It is based on surveys and focus group discussions with our team. The figure is based on necessity, not capability, and we will work towards achieving it." As PH's Johor election machinery director, he noted that grassroots campaign efforts had garnered positive feedback, though he acknowledged that many voters had yet to openly declare their support.
Furthermore, Amirudin mentioned that the participation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in campaign events in Johor would enhance the morale of party members and bolster voter confidence in PH. The Johor State Election features 172 candidates vying for 56 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats, with polling scheduled for July 11 and early voting on July 7.