KUALA LUMPUR – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s public approval rating remains stable at 67% amid concerns about the economy and Covid-19 pandemic, a survey of peninsula voters showed.
The poll, conducted by Merdeka Centre from March 31 to April 12, found that the prime minister enjoys strong support from Malays (83%). This is followed by Indians (66%) and Chinese (30%).
“The figure is an improvement on the 63% approval rating recorded at the end of January,” said Merdeka Centre in a statement.
The latest survey involved 2,111 respondents aged 21 and above.
It found the public mood on the country’s direction to be mixed, with 41% of respondents believing Malaysia is heading in the right direction and 46% thinking otherwise.
It is a marked change from the result of the January poll, where only 32% of respondents felt that the country was moving in the right direction, while 54% disagreed.
“Those who expressed the view that the country is headed in the right direction cited positive feelings towards the administration, as well as recognition that the public’s welfare is being taken care of,” said the statement.
“Those who said they feel the country is headed in the wrong direction cited concerns about political stability and unfavourable economic conditions.”
In terms of issues of “personal concern”, the top response was economic conditions (57%), followed by Covid-19 (16%) and politics (2.4%).
The survey found that worries about the economy are underpinned by voters’ financial standing, with 57% saying they are “worse off” than a year ago, before the imposition of movement controls to curb the coronavirus.
The majority of respondents (70%) said they are satisfied with the government’s handling of the health crisis.
This is an improvement from the 53% recorded in January, when daily infections exceeded 4,000. – Bernama, April 23, 2021
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