Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for a truce among political parties, saying the incessant bickering not only benefitted a handful of people, but also led to the country suffering economic setbacks.
Anwar said prolonged political disputes had weakened Malaysia’s ability to focus on sustainable economic development policies, Sinar Harian reported.
“We’ve lost many years because of endless political quarrels. Only three or four people gain from it, while the rest lose out. Those making the noise are already wealthy.
“Our focus should be on helping traders and the people,” he was quoted as saying.
Anwar said Malaysia’s main priority now is to boost the economy, and the constant politicking only undermined political stability.
He also said differences in opinion between the federal and state governments should not be used as an excuse for political discord.
“If we want to succeed economically, we must work with everyone. However, that doesn’t mean we agree on everything.
“For example, Tengku Zafrul Aziz is here,” he said, referring to the investment, trade and industry minister.
“We don’t agree on everything, but we agree on many things.”
