PETALING JAYA: The ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition should stop their political infighting and focus on economic issues, says the National Patriots Association (Patriot).

Its president Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said it was disgusting to see political in-fighting within Pakatan after the Tanjung Piai by-election.

He said the people had sent a clear message that something was seriously wrong with the ruling coalition.

"The people have enough of the intra-coalition bickering and political manoeuvring over the succession of premiership that is threatening to destroy itself, and with it thrashes whatever hopes for a new Malaysia.

"Economic issues deserve more attention and political leaders must get cracking now," he said in a statement on Friday (Nov 22).

Arshad added that the issue of the premiership succession should be left to the Pakatan presidential council and all politicking and horse-trading between rival groups must stop.

"There are far too many national issues that need attention.

"Our nation has no place for recalcitrant politicians who do not provide good leadership in their respective portfolios, who are not proactive but rather react after a problem has arisen, and are only good at playing politics.

"If politicians have a conscience, they would be ashamed now that the Tg Piai voters have spoken," he said.

Arshad added that in line with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, everyone must be made to feel empowered, to patriotically contribute to the nation's economy and towards nation-building.

He said economic progress had been plagued by declining standard of education, lack of innovation and skills, and a stagnating productivity growth.

Arshad added that Cabinet members must take the lead to empower people by raising the education standard to prepare them for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 with focus on the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.

He said when political leaders fight for position, make secret pacts with opposition politicians, ignore poverty and cast suspicion on other ethnic group, the nation was as good as "living dead".

"We are devoid of pride and honour.

"When politicians care for nothing else but politicking to secure power, it sure tells of greed, craze for power, selfishness, indifference and incompetency.

He said Malaysia was in the same league as Japan, South Korea and Singapore in the 1970s in terms of GDP and per capita income but now lagged behind these countries as leaders championed ethno-religious politicking.