Set aside politics and focus on economic recovery - Mustapa

Amid ongoing political upheavals that have fueled speculations of snap elections, Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed today urged all parties to allow time for the economy to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In urging for a stop to incessant politicking, the economic affairs minister said the government need to focus its full attention on the implementation of recovery measures which has been announced so far.

"We hope that political issues can be stopped. Political issues can wait until the next general election when we fight again.

"We focus now on the economy, the people are sick (of politics)," said Mustapa (above) when met after a visit to the East Coast Economic Region office in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, today.

H was asked to comment on current political developments which, among others, saw Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi indicating the party's readiness to face a general election before the end of this current five-year term in May 2022.

The Umno-PAS Muafakat Nasional pact had also made plans for the 15th general elections, including to discuss seat distribution among PN parties.

Mustapa meanwhile insisted that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should be given time to set aside any political disputes and focus on the economy.

"We (PN) are just three months old... will the new government be able to do a good job? I am not convinced.

"The prime minister has carried out his duties well so we should focus on people's problems. There is no guarantee that someone else can do better (as prime minister).

"We should forget about politics [...] set aside the trivial matters," he added.

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz in an interview with Reuters said Malaysia's fiscal deficit will nearly double to around six percent of the annual economic output this year because of the government's recent efforts to revive the economy. 

Muhyiddin had on Friday announced a direct fiscal injection of RM10 billion which Zafrul said will be raised through domestic borrowing. - Mkini