Reports published on the Internet regarding the country’s politics are scaring investors and tourists, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong said today.

This is why there should be less politicking in this Year of the Monkey, Mah said.

Urging all quarters to put aside their political differences, Mah said the country needs more trade and investment, foe which political bickering would not help.

“If we quarrel with one another... nowadays there are many reports on the Internet.

“Investors are worried, tourists are worried, too,” Mah said at a press conference at Gerakan’s Chinese New Year celebration at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

'Cost of living main topic of the people'

In stressing that there should be less politics this year, Mah said this was because the cost of living was the main topic discussed by the people, not politics.

“We politicians always talk about politics. But when I go to the ground, everyone talks about the cost of living.

“Everywhere I go, everybody talks about the cost of living. They don't talk to me about politics.”

Prices of various goods and services increased notably last year, and this included travel fares on the LRT, ERL, commuter, besides highway toll rates and the hike in electricity tariff.

However, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has continuously said that the government is constantly trying to find ways to decrease the cost of living for the people.

Najib also argued that the increase in the costs of certain good and services could not be helped.

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