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KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has slightly slipped in global rank for the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index 2022, earning the country the classification of a “flawed democracy”.
Compared to the previous year’s report, the report stated that Malaysia dropped one spot to 40th place with an overall score of 7.30, which puts it higher than Southeast Asian neighbours Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Malaysia also managed to maintain its sixth rank in the Asia and Australasia region.
While Malaysia received high points under the electoral process and pluralism segment (9.58), its performance for civil liberties recorded a dismal score of only 5.59.
Besides that, Malaysia received a score of 7.86 for functioning government, 7.22 for political participation, and 6.25 for political culture.
Singapore, which dropped four spots to 70th and an overall score of 6.22, recorded evidently lower points for electoral process and pluralism (4.83) and political participation (4.44).
Thailand, which the report labelled as “the most improved country” after it recorded the biggest overall score increase from 6.04 to 6.67, came in at 55th place – a 17-spot jump.
“The improvement is due to a widening political space for the country’s opposition parties, greater popular political participation, and a receding threat from the secessionist movements,” the report noted.
The Philippines, meanwhile, achieved an overall score of 6.73 and climbed two spots to 52nd place.
The EIU’s Democracy Index, which began in 2006, provides a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide in 165 independent states and two territories based on the ratings for 60 indicators grouped into five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture.
In 2021’s index, Malaysia secured a total score of 7.24, with 9.58 points for electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of government (7.86), political participation (7.22), political culture (6.25), and civil liberties (5.29).
On Tuesday, it was reported that Malaysia has obtained a lower score in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2022, garnering 47 out of 100 points, dropping from 48 points the previous year. – The Vibes, February 3, 2023
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