Published February 27, 2009

Businessman pleads for political truce

His newspaper ad urges warring politicians to focus on economy, jobs

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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A MALAYSIAN businessman has taken a full-page advertisement in a major daily newspaper asking warring political parties to call a truce and focus on the shaky economy and jobs.

'Take the nation to heart. That's why you are in politics in the first place. Focus on the people. Focus on the economy' - Anas Zubedy

Consultant Anas Zubedy shelled out more than RM36,000 (S$15,008) for his advertisement yesterday in The Star, the country's biggest-selling English-language newspaper.

In the ad, he spoke of the challenges faced by his 20 staff, their fears for the future - and how the country's leaders seem oblivious to the anxiety that he feels is gripping the nation.

'Whether (the governing) Barisan Nasional or (opposition) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leads is meaningless . . . if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table,' he wrote.

'Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and just let go. The nation can wait until the next general election if they want change.

'Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR lawmakers. You have proved your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general election if they want your party.'

Mr Anas called on politicians from all sides to 'get together and compromise', telling them: 'Someone has to give in. Take the nation to heart. That's why you are in politics in the first place. Focus on the people. Focus on the economy.'

The last time an individual placed a full-page newspaper ad about their political feelings was in 1998, when the late social scientist Noordin Sopiee attacked former US vice-president Al Gore for praising Malaysia's 'reformasi' movement at an international banquet hosted by former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The reformasi movement supported Anwar Ibrahim, who Dr Mahathir had just sacked as deputy premier. Dr Noordin felt that it was rude of Mr Gore to attack Dr Mahathir at a banquet attended by many foreign leaders.

In the ad, Mr Anas may have articulated what many Malaysians, frustrated over the constant political bickering, really feel - that the government has been distracted from more important matters.

For instance, a second economic stimulus package, mooted by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak in December last year, is only being tabled on March 10 this year.

Some observers say that Mr Anas's message - and his willingness to pay more than RM36,000 to get it across - could galvanise mass support.

'He is echoing what many of us are thinking - that enough is enough, and that everyone needs to get down and get back to work,' activist and writer Marina Mahathir wrote in her blog on Wednesday.

But whether Mr Anas will move politicians is anyone's guess.