PAKATAN Harapan has mounted a robust defence of its Johor state election manifesto after former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin accused the coalition of plagiarising Barisan Nasional's policy blueprint, fuelling an increasingly heated contest just days before voters head to the polls.
The manifesto dispute erupted after Khairy claimed Pakatan Harapan had deliberately delayed unveiling its election pledges so it could reproduce proposals already announced by Barisan Nasional, describing the opposition coalition's document as little more than a "copy-and-paste" version of the ruling coalition's platform.
Speaking at the “Himpunan Anak Muda Tiram” programme on Friday, Khairy said the similarities between the two manifestos were evident across several major policy areas.
"Firstly, they were slow to get the job done. We launched ours a week ago. They have only launched their manifesto today. I went and read it, and I thought it looked quite good."
"Then I read them side by side – BN's manifesto and PH's manifesto – and, ladies and gentlemen, it turned out to be a copy-and-paste manifesto. They waited a week because they wanted to copy and paste."
"On housing, young people, the economy, small and medium enterprises – everything is copy and paste. So, if the choice is between the original and the copy, it is better to choose the original BN manifesto rather than the copy-and-paste version."
Khairy also urged Barisan Nasional supporters to build a nationwide "blue wave", arguing that a decisive victory in Johor would provide momentum for the coalition in future electoral contests.
"Continue a blue wave that begins here in Johor. Let BN win on its own and form the state government. The blue wave will rise from the south, and strong winds will blow towards my state, Negeri Sembilan."
"Perhaps it will give Datuk Zahid (Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) the confidence that in Negeri Sembilan we should also contest on our own and win. After Negeri Sembilan, the wave will return south to the state of Datuk Seri Rauf Yusoh."
Pakatan Harapan election machinery director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari swiftly rejected the allegations, insisting the coalition's manifesto was the result of extensive planning, consultation and evidence-based policy development carried out over several months.
Speaking after a campaign event in Simpang Renggam, the PKR vice-president and Selangor Menteri Besar said Pakatan Harapan's proposals on affordable housing and healthcare reflected longstanding priorities rather than policies borrowed from political opponents.
"Affordable housing has never been adequately delivered, and healthcare assistance has not been properly implemented. These are measures that we have pursued before."
"So, they can say whatever they like, but the data and the facts clearly show these are original ideas generated and developed by PH's leadership over several months after we began hearing that an election would be called," Amirudin told reporters.
Responding to criticism that the coalition's housing targets were unrealistic, Amirudin said the figures were intentionally ambitious because they were based on public demand identified through surveys and focus group discussions, rather than on current implementation capacity.
"We have set ambitious targets because the need is substantial. They are based on surveys and focus group discussions conducted by our team. The figures represent the scale of public need, not merely what is currently achievable, and we will strive to meet those targets."
Amirudin said grassroots feedback throughout the campaign had been encouraging despite many voters preferring not to publicly disclose their electoral preferences.
He added that campaign appearances by Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were expected to further strengthen the coalition's momentum in the closing stages of the campaign.
Johor voters will cast their ballots on 11 July following early voting on 7 July, with 172 candidates contesting seats in one of Malaysia's most closely watched state elections. - July 4, 2026
