KUALA LUMPUR – The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that trust in all Malaysian institutions, including government, business, media, and non-government organisations (NGOs), has increased as a result of assertive action in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Research firm Edelman Data & Intelligence said Malaysia achieved an average trust index score of 66 points, a six-point increase from last year, and climbed two spots to the 7th position on the global trust index ranking.
The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer is the firm’s 21st annual trust and credibility survey.
The survey consisted of 30-minute online interviews conducted between October 19 and November 18 last year.
Malaysia’s trust index is higher than the Asia-Pacific (62 points) and global (56 points) averages in managing the challenge posed by the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.
Nonetheless, the survey noted that trust is built on fragile foundations, as escalating pandemic fears have created an increase in the urgency for these institutions to find solutions for critical societal problems.
Improving the healthcare system has become 62 points more important, along with addressing poverty (53 points) and improving the education system (53 points).
This suggests that most foundational building blocks of society need a reset, it added. – Bernama, May 7, 2021
