KUALA LUMPUR – The highest support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from the six states that recently held elections came from the Chinese at a staggering 88%.
This was followed by support from the Indians at 81%.
The prime minister received a 75% approval rating from other ethnic groups.
This is according to a recent poll by local think tank, Ilham Centre on public sentiment surrounding Anwar’s performance, following the conclusion of the six-state elections recently.
Overall, the premier received an approval rate of 42%, with satisfaction among the Malay community at 24%.
Ilham Centre’s executive director Muhamad Hisommudin Bakar also noted that Perikatan Nasional (PN) dominated the social media sphere.
“Most respondents, especially youngsters, were unaware of the government’s initiatives and announcements.
“Though much of it was announced, the messages got lost or stuck along the way,” he said.
The survey also revealed that 55.3% disagreed that the economy under the current administration is on the path to recovery.
"As for party preferences, Umno supporters hesitated to vote for a PH candidate due to scepticism, while PH supporters displayed more openness to BN candidates.
“So what’s stopping Umno supporters from voting for PH? It’s the mindset,” said Hisommudin.
He said the voting pattern in the six states on August 12 also revealed that civil servants were still more inclined towards PN.
“Most civil servants seem ‘trapped’ under the previous administration under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and did not change,” he said.
He said Anwar’s approval rating was higher in PH-BN states, but more nuanced among Malays.
PN’s narrative regarding the protection of Malay-Muslim rights appeared to wield more influence in Malay-majority areas.
The survey involved 2,416 respondents in its first series from July 11 to July 27 and 2,304 respondents in its final phase from July 29 to August 8.
Participants included a diverse demographic, spanning different age groups, with 11% falling within the 18-20 bracket, 22% (21-29), 21% (30-39), 18% (40-49), 16% (50-59), and 13% aged 60 and above. – The Vibes, August 25, 2023
