KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Malaysians should put their political differences aside and instead focus on the rising cost of living, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong said today at the party’s Chinese New Year open house.
Mah said the Year of the Monkey is expected to be a “tough and challenging year”, and therefore all Malaysians must unite to ensure the country’s economy continues growing despite the circumstances.
“We have to do less politicking and we need to talk about the living cost issues because this is a very real problem,” he told reporters here.
The ringgit has depreciated since last year and plummeting oil prices has also affected government’s revenue.
Mah also claimed that cost of living was the most prevalent topic of discussion among the public.
“I went down and met people in the last two weeks leading up to the new year, and everyone is talking about the same issue—cost issues,” he said.
Despite a tough year ahead, Mah it also has the potential to be a “good year”.
“It is a challenge and it is also an opportunity,” he said.
“If we keep quarrelling, the investors will not have confidence in us. So we owe it to the people to stop politicking.”
