Malaysia Politician: PH Manifesto Promises 'Moon and Stars,' Unrealistic

Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, a leader of Parti Bersama Malaysia, has criticized the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition's election manifesto for the Johor state elections, calling its promises unrealistic and akin to 'moon and stars.' Ramli argued that the manifesto does not reflect the true financial situation in Johor and was designed solely to attract voters.

Ramli specifically pointed to PH's pledge to build 80,000 affordable homes within five years. He questioned whether the coalition had considered the financial implications, stating that even building 50,000 homes would require RM20 billion. This figure, he noted, far exceeds the state government's annual revenue of RM4 billion, making the promise practically impossible to fulfill.

"The PH manifesto is indeed promising 'moon and stars,'" Ramli stated. "For example, the affordable housing, did they do any calculations first? Because even 50,000 homes would require RM20 billion. Meanwhile, the state government's revenue is only RM4 billion a year, so how can that be implemented?"

He emphasized the importance of conducting thorough cost calculations before formulating a manifesto, drawing an analogy of someone wanting to buy a Mercedes but only being able to afford a moped. Ramli urged voters to carefully evaluate the promises made by all political parties, ensuring they are feasible if a coalition forms the government after July 11.

Ramli expressed concern that many of the promises might lack the necessary financial planning and implementation strategies. He highlighted that most states in Malaysia, including Johor, are currently facing budget deficits, further complicating the execution of ambitious electoral pledges.