PM ANWAR'S APPROVAL RATING INCREASES TO 54 PER CENT IN SECOND YEAR OF ADMINISTRATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) --  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's approval rating increased to 54 per cent among Malaysian voters in the second year of the MADANI administration compared to 50 per cent last year, according to a survey by Merdeka Center.

The survey, conducted in early December, found that voters were generally satisfied with the Prime Minister’s performance across a number of areas, including attracting investments, improving the country’s image, and improving the civil service but gave mixed assessment on efforts to strengthen the economy.

The independent organisation, which focuses on public opinion research and socio-economic analysis, said in a statement today that presently respondents gave the federal government (Unity Government) an approval rating of 51 per cent compared to 46 per cent at November 2023.

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"Dissatisfaction towards the federal government presently stands 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.

"As in the past, voter sentiments remain focused on the economy, largely driven by their concerns over the economy, where 65 per cent state as the 'number one problem facing people in the country today', though high, has dropped from 74 per cent one year ago," the statement said.

Merdeka Center also revealed that there are minor improvements in the number of voters who think the country is headed in the wrong direction, from 54 per cent in 2023 to 53 per cent this year with major reasons such as economic issues (47 per cent), political instability (7 per cent) and poor administration (8 per cent).

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The survey's report also revealed that voters aged 18 to 30 have a positive outlook on the direction of the country with a rating of 49 per cent.

Meanwhile, the majority of voters aged 31 to 60 and above think that the country is going in the wrong direction with concerns surrounding the economic condition of the country, such as the high cost of living, minimum income and weakening of the ringgit.

The survey involved 1,207 registered voters comprising 52 per cent Malay, 29 per cent Chinese, 7 per cent Indian, 6 per cent Muslim Bumiputera and 6 per cent Non-Muslim Bumiputera.

-- BERNAMA