BN Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (above) said Pakatan Harapan may have intentionally exaggerated the national debt in order to revise their plans to deliver on their election pledges.

"Some pledges were delayed on grounds that the national debt is too high. That is their narrative and it is one we cannot agree with.

"It doesn't give an accurate picture of the national debt and the ability of the government to repay that debt.

"Therefore, they are using it to delay some pledges," he told reporters during a buka puasa event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Since coming to power, Putrajaya has claimed that the national debt should including "hidden" debts such as government guarantees and lease payments.

Summed together, Putrajaya said that the national debt now stood at RM1 trillion or 80 percent of the GDP.

On Putrajaya's decision to solicit donations to deal with the debt, Khairy said that this was not wrong because it provided a chance for the public to show their solidarity as citizens and work collectively towards reducing the debt.

However, the donation drive should not be exploited and used to exaggerate the debt situation.

"The debt looks huge but it can be contained. The previous administration had plans to (pay) the debt," he said.

He claimed that Putrajaya did not provide the full picture on the debt situation especially the government's ability to meet its debt obligations.

Khairy expressed his objection to calls for Umno to join forces with PAS.

Khairy, who has since stated his ambitions to be nominated for Umno vice-presidency, said BN and Umno will focus on issues and not oppose just for the sake of opposing.

"I don't agree with an official alliance with PAS. We can work together on issues, not just with PAS, but with other parties as well including with the government.

"This is a new Malaysia. We will prioritise issues," he said.