KUALA LUMPUR – Over two-thirds of Malaysian voters have given 10th prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a positive rating in a survey carried out during his second month in power following the 15th general election.
The survey carried out by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research concluded with Anwar’s approval rating standing at 68%, and only 20% of the voters reporting dissatisfaction with his performance as prime minister at that moment in time.
Some 54% voters reported as being satisfied at the performance of the new unity federal government, while 25% reported dissatisfaction.
“In our opinion, the survey results show a Malaysian electorate that is keen to put the instability that had mired the country’s politics in the past, and move on to provide room for the new leadership to prove themselves,” the pollster said in a statement today.
“While many accept the unity government, the public is also reserving their assessment on the new government.
“A key factor in determining public satisfaction will be how well it can address the long standing problem of tepid economic growth and rising cost of living,” it added.
It stressed that reception towards the revamped Budget 2023 due to be tabled in the coming weeks will be an important milestone that will drive public response towards the new administration.
Merdeka Centre is an independent organisation focused on public opinion research and socio-economic analysis.
It said that the ratings on the prime minister’s performance were attained on the support of 73% ethnic Chinese, 91% ethnic Indian, about 70% of Sabah and Sarawak bumiputera, and 60% Malay voters.
Meanwhile, the federal government obtained positive responses from 67% ethnic Indians, 65% ethnic Chinese, 42% non-Muslim Bumiputeras, 39% Muslim Bumiputeras, and 48% Malay voters nationwide.
“It should be noted that nearly one-quarter of voters refrained from giving their views, indicative of cautiousness after four years of tumultuous political developments that had gripped the country,” the centre commented.
Although the sense of cautiousness appears to prevail, there is also some optimism in many Indicators, it added.
This is shown by 48% of voters expressing belief that the country is now headed in the right direction, compared to just 20% in October last year.
Also, 43% of voters expressed optimism about the national economy in the coming year, up from 23% in October 2022; and 38% of voters were optimistic about their personal financial prospects compared to 26% in October 2022.
“The strong ‘wait-and-see’ attitude is likely underpinned by strong voter concerns about economic growth and cost of living, which was mentioned by nearly 20%, and 19% respectively in the survey as issues the new government should focus on.
“This was followed by increasing investment in the economy (12%), fighting corruption (10%), and improving the quality of education (9%),” the centre said.
The survey also found that a vast majority – 79% of voters – welcomed the results of the election.
Additionally voters were also asked to rate their views on a number of developments
surrounding the formation of the new unity government as follows:
– 83% accepted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s appointment of Anwar as the 10th prime minister;
– 77% believed that the unity government can bring about stability and inclusiveness in the country’s politics;
– 75% accept Perikatan Nasional’s decision to remain as opposition; and
– 66% accepted Barisan Nasional’s decision to join the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government.
The survey was carried out between December 26 last year and January 2023.
It covered 1,209 registered voters comprising 52% Malay, 29% Chinese, 7% Indian, 6% Muslim Bumiputera, 6% Non-Muslim Bumiputera, (from Sabah and Sarawak), reflective of the national electoral profile.
They were interviewed via fixed line and mobile telephones, and selected on the basis of random stratified sampling along age group, ethnicity, gender and state constituency.
The poll was funded by Merdeka Centre’s internally generated financial resources, it said. – The Vibes, February 10, 2023
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