Pakatan Harapan (PH) has defended its Johor state election manifesto, stressing that the proposals were formulated based on the real needs of the people rather than an attempt to introduce entirely new ideas for political impact.
DAP national vice-chairperson Teo Nie Ching said criticism from Barisan Nasional (BN) claiming the manifesto lacked innovation was not the main issue, as priority should be given to addressing long-standing problems faced by the public.
She said key matters such as education, healthcare, housing ownership and opportunities for young people remain central concerns that must be continuously addressed.
“These are issues faced by voters every day. So it is not about whether the offers are old or new, but whether they meet what the people truly need,” she said.
Teo made the remarks during a press conference after attending a fundraising dinner for the Bukit Permai and Senai state seats at a restaurant on Friday night.
At the same time, the Kulai MP questioned BN’s record in fulfilling promises made during previous elections.
She pointed to issues such as congestion at border checkpoints, saying they had not been fully resolved under the previous state administration, despite earlier pledges.
Teo said the problem was eventually addressed through cooperation with the federal government.
Earlier, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported as saying that PH’s manifesto was unimpressive, arguing that most of its proposals had already been implemented by the state government and did not offer any major “game changer”.
PH launched its manifesto titled “Johor Untuk Semua” on Friday, outlining 10 key pledges covering cost of living, housing, job opportunities, education, healthcare and state economic development.
