KUALA LUMPUR – Approval ratings for Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim improved by 4 percentage points to 54 per cent over the last year, according to Merdeka Centre’s latest survey results released on Dec 23.
Respondents were generally satisfied with Datuk Seri Anwar’s performance across a number of areas – such as attracting foreign investments, enhancing the country’s image and improving the civil service – but gave a mixed assessment when asked about his efforts to improve the economy, said the independent think-tank.
The economy remains the top issue for voters, with 65 per cent identifying it as the “number one problem facing people in the country today”, Merdeka Centre said, noting that this figure marks a decline from 74 per cent recorded in November 2023.
The survey, done between Nov 27 and Dec 10, took into account feedback from 1,207 registered voters nationwide, comprising 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, 7 per cent Indian, and 6 per cent Muslim bumiputera and non-Muslim bumiputera each.
Malaysians’ top five economic concerns are the high cost of living, low minimum income, unfavourable economic conditions, unemployment, and the weakening of the ringgit.
The poll measured the government’s performance in areas such as generating economic growth, addressing cost-of-living issues, enhancing integrity, fighting graft, and improving ethnic ties.
The rising cost of living in Malaysia, exacerbated by cuts to diesel subsidies in June and utility rate hikes under the Anwar administration, fuelled voter discontent, leading to the ruling coalition losing the Sungai Bakap state by-election in Penang in July.
That loss highlighted growing public dissatisfaction with Mr Anwar’s economic policies.
Mr Anwar’s unity government, two years into power, consists of the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition, former rival Barisan Nasional and other allies.
Meanwhile, the survey showed the federal government’s approval rating rose to 51 per cent, from 46 per cent in November 2023. Dissatisfaction with Putrajaya stood at 47 per cent.
“The tight spread between positives and negatives is largely driven by persistent concerns about cost of living pressures and some anxiety over subsidy cuts slated to take place in the future,” Merdeka Centre said.
It also said that 53 per cent of respondents thought the country is headed in the wrong direction, from 54 per cent a year ago, mainly due to economic issues, political instability, and poor administration. The percentage of voters who felt the country was on the right track was at 39 per cent, a slight improvement from 36 per cent in November 2023.
Political analysts say that Mr Anwar’s 4-percentage-point rise in approval ratings is encouraging, which they attributed to the government’s efforts to bring in investments and commitment to institutional reforms. But they said the Anwar administration should focus on efforts to spur wage growth and lower living costs.
Mr Halmie Azrie Abdul Halim, a senior analyst at political risk consultancy Vriens & Partners, told The Straits Times that the Prime Minister’s move to raise civil servants’ salaries, his ability to attract foreign investments, and the delay in proposed petrol subsidy cuts were factors contributing to his improved approval ratings.
“But 54 per cent is still not a flattering figure. It is a step in the right direction, but Mr Anwar and his government can still do a lot more to increase those percentages by focusing on institutional reforms, and control of prices of goods for (stemming the) rising cost of living,” he said.
Sociopolitical analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the Anwar-led government must intensify its focus on delivering economic improvements to maintain and build on this positive trajectory. “Addressing the economic concerns effectively will not only enhance approval ratings but also strengthen the political legitimacy and stability of his government.”
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