Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan has lamented about the level of politicking in the country, stressing that it is Malaysia that requires a vote of confidence.

This is after PAS revealed that it plans to move a vote of confidence for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad when the Dewan Rakyat convenes next week.

"Recently, there has been a lot of politicking in Malaysia, so much so that we forget the country is facing several critical challenges.

"Malaysia is the one that needs the confidence vote. If Malaysia fails to resolve the crisis of confidence which it is facing, Malaysia will continue to remain as a mediocre country," he said in a statement today.

Mohamad (above) is the second Umno leader who has been less than enthusiastic about PAS' proposal.

Last Saturday, Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa had said the party did not want to be a busybody in Pakatan Harapan's affairs in response to the proposed vote of confidence.

PAS' proposal comes amid its attempt to drum up the possibility of a Malay-only or bumiputera-only coalition, dubbed as "Pakatan Nasional", which will supposedly include some parties from Pakatan Harapan.

However, Mahathir today thanked PAS for its gesture but said he is "already the prime minister".

Mohamad, in his statement today, said Malaysia needs a radical plan to ensure economic sustainability.

He pointed out that the novel coronavirus outbreak has had an unprecedented impact on global economic growth.

"Economic growth in various sectors will slow down, particularly in the tourism and services sector," Mohamad said.

He also raised Malaysia's strained relations with India due to Mahathir's position on Kashmir, adding that Pakistan, which has expressed willingness to help Malaysia, is not a substitute.

Mohamad said the plunge in oil price due to the slowing global economic activity from the novel coronavirus also means that Malaysia's revenue, which is also reliant on oil, will be affected.

"Investors are also very cautious as they are not confident with the middle-term and long-term political stability of Malaysia.

"To date, we have also not seen the implementation of the Shared Prosperity policy and an agenda that prioritises (economic) growth.

"Malaysia is facing two major crisis - firstly, the lack of an economic plan that is crisis-proof and secondly, the absence of an economic team that is truly capable in stimulating the economy," he added.

As such, he urged Malaysians to focus on these immediate challenges.

"Stop politicking. Malaysia needs solutions to various problems and it rests upon all of us, not only some of us."