national poll - dec 2007 - press release

8/14/2019 National Poll - Dec 2007 - Press Release

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Chart 1MERDEKA CENTER

Voter Opinion Poll 4th

Quarter 2007

Awareness and Perspectives on Demonstrations, the EconomyNational Issues and Leadership

26 December 2007MERDEKA CENTER


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Background

The poll is part of Merdeka Centers quarterlysocio-political barometer surveys.

Objectives

Measure public awareness and opinions overrecent social and political events.

Continue tracking of top issues and sentimentsover the economy.

Methodology

1026 randomly selected registered voters aged21+ in Peninsular Malaysia were interviewed viatelephone for the survey.

Respondents were selected via random stratifiedsampling method along the lines of state ofresidence, ethnicity, gender and age.

Survey was carried out between 14th to 19thDecember 2007.

Survey margin of error estimated at 3.10%.

Introduction

Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion PollDecember 2007


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Key Findings

Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Poll4th Quarter 2007 (14 19 Dec 2007, n = 1026)


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Key Findings: Overview

Inflation and crime remain top issues of concern but dissatisfaction over treatment bygovernment has come to the fore, especially among ethnic Indians.

Concerns over the economy remain high with sentiments mixed over prices, jobs and

business opportunities. Economic optimism for 2008 shows some decline, Malay votersremain positive but less upbeat.

Confidence in the government in running the economy remains high among Malays butvery low among Chinese.

Approval rating of the Prime Minister has decreased from 71% to 61%.

Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Poll4th Quarter 2007


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Key Findings: Overview

Overall, voters still see things as headed in the right direction in the country but contexthas significantly changed over the past month.

Indian voters sentiments have turned visibly more negative but non-Indian sentiments

have improved probably due to calm after the recent spate of demonstrations and policeaction.



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Generally speaking, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way things aregoing in the country at present?


15%

48%

1%

27%

9%

Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied Don't know

Overall satisfaction with situation in the country in the month of December


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Generally speaking, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way things aregoing in the country at present?


Satisfaction with the way things are going in the country

44%

63%

65%

72%72% 67%

71%

76%

75%73%

74%

75%

54%47%

47%

68%65%

59% 62%

54%

63%

78%

86%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Nov 06 Apr 07 Jun 07 Sept 07 Oct 07 Dec 07

Peninsula M'sia Malay Chinese Indian

NOTE: Very satisfied & somewhat satisfied aggregated.

7 pt improvement among Chinese but massive drop in satisfaction among Indians over

the period down by 18pts from November


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I am going to read you a list of items and institutions recently mentioned in themedia, how favourable or unfavourable would you say is your view towards: Thejudiciary


7%

38%

18%

1%

7%

29%

Very favourable Somewhat favourableSomewhat unfavourable Very unfavourableDon't know No response

Less than one-half see the Judiciary in favorable light


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The Economy

Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Poll4th Quarter 2007 (14 19 Dec 2007, n = 1026)


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How do you see the current economic conditions in Malaysia compared to 3years ago?


Views on contemporary economy has improved from lows in November into positive

realm

16%

37%

3%

27%

9%

8%

Strongly improved Somewhat improved Stayed the same

Somewhat declined Strongly declined Don't know


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How do you see the current economic conditions in Malaysia compared to 3years ago?


Perceived improved economic conditions compared 3 years ago (% saying improved)

54%

61%63%

52%

55%

52%

63%

74%

74%

67%

70%

64%

33%

23%

44%

34%

30%

33%

67%

76% 75%

53%

55%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%


Peninsula M'sia MalayChinese Indian

NOTE: Strongly improved & somewhat improved aggregated.

Marginal improvement in sentiments among Chinese over the past one month


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Moving on the subject of the economy, can you tell how favorable or unfavorablethings are with respect to the following:


10%

2%

8%11%

48%

14%

39%

52%

7%8%

9%

37%

30%

39%

31%32%

8%

4%

9%

1% 1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Your personal income Prices of consumer items

and services

Job opportunities Business opportunities

Very favourable Somewhat favourable Somewhat unfavourable Very unfavourable Don't know No response

Personal income levels still in positive range but sentiments over business and jobs

remain mixed


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How do you expect the economy to be one year from now?


Optimism over the economy however has declined by further 2pts - majority now

uncertain or negative

11%

30%

7%

8%25%

19%

Strongly improve Somewhat improve Stay the same

Somewhat decline Strongly decline Don't know


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How do you expect the economy to be one year from now?

Economic optimism (% saying "economy will improve")

44%

61%

64%

48%

43%41%

58%

75%78%

62%

57%

53%

21%

20%

39%

35%19% 19%

62%

70%

41%

47%43%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%




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How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with way the government is managing theeconomy at present?


13%

42%

9%

32%

4%

Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied Don't know

Confidence in governments ability to manage the economy remains strong


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How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with way the government is managing theeconomy at present?


Satisfaction with the government in handling the economy

(% saying very/somewhat satisfied)

58%56%

65%

61%

54%

55%

72%

75%75%

67% 68%67%

37%

51%

52%

32% 31%

35%

62% 60%

41%

55%

49%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%



63%


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National Issues

and Concerns

Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Poll4th Quarter 2007 (14 19 Dec 2007 n = 1026)


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What in your view, is the most important problem affecting Malaysia today?


Crime, inflation and now, ethnic equality issues, top national concerns in the post-

HINDRAF period

20%

3%

1%12%

9%

2%

3%

3%

3%

17%

2%

7%

1%

2%

3%

4%

7%

1%

Price hike & inflation

Unemployment

Other economic problemsCrime / Public safety

Social problems

Drug abuse

Illegal immigrants

Politics

Corruption

Ethnic & inequality

Management of government

Demonstration

Education

Flood

Others

None

Don't know

No response


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How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with government efforts to solve theproblem? (Top 5 problems)


Regardless of what the issue is, public satisfaction with government is low in terms of

resolution with majority dissatisfied

4%

12%

1%

9%

23%

24%

23%

31%

40%

42%

50%

40%

50%

38%

25%

20%

23%

16%

12%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Price hike & inflation

Ethnic & inequality

Crime & public safety

Social problems

Demonstration

Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied


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How far would you say you believe the mainstream news reports on the followingdemonstrations/gatherings? Bersih rally


Belief in news reports on BERSIH

36%

32%

3%

9%

11%

8%

1%

Strongly believe Somewhat believeSomewhat do not believe Don't believe at all

Does not follow news at all Don't knowNo response


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How far would you say you believe the mainstream news reports on the followingdemonstrations/gatherings? HINDRAF rally


Belief in news reports on HINDRAF

11%

39%26%

9%

11%

2%

2%

Strongly believe Somewhat believeSomewhat do not believe Don't believe at allDoes not follow news at all Don't knowNo response


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In your view, what would be the most appropriate action that the governmentshould take in order to address the problem of protests and demonstrations?


But public prefers discussions rather than arrests

8%

16%

6% 4%

2%

64%

Continue with the arrest of the demonstration supportersMeet and discuss with the protest leaders

Allow the demonstrations to take place with police permitsOthers, please specify:Don't knowNo response


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Approval Ratings

Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Poll4th Quarter 2007 (14 19 Dec 2007 n = 1026)


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How strongly do you approve or disapprove of the way Abdullah Ahmad Badawiis performing his job as the prime minister?


23%

38%

25%

5%7%

2%

Strongly approve Somewhat approve Somewhat disapprove

Strongly disapprove Don't know No response

The Prime Ministers approval rating has fallen by 10 points in the past one month


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Abdullah Badawi's state d approval rating since taking office

91%

86%85%

81%

78%

83%

68%

78%

74%

71%

63%

71%74%

70%

83%

77%78%

73%

61%

82%

83%

72%

71%

73%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

95%

Nov20

04

Mar20

05

Apr20

05

8-1

2Jun2

005

15-1

9Jun2

005

22-2

7Jun2

005

Aug2005

1-4

Sept2

005

15-1

8Sept2

005

Nov20

05

1-5

Dec2005

21-2

5Feb2

006

2-4

Mar2006

Apr20

06

Jun2006

14-

22July2

006

22-2

5Sept2

006

Oct

06

Nov07

Apr

07

Jun

07

Sept

07

Oct

07

Dec

07

NOTE: Strongly approve & somewhat approve aggregated.

20 sen Petrolhike

Dr. M criticismbegins

Bersih/

Hindraf

30 sen Petrolhike

Pay rise forcivil

servants

Announcementof various econdevelopmentregions

UMNO GA2007

UMNO GA2006


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71%

61%

84%

76%

42%

79%

38%

73%

71%

72%

70% 73%

86%80%79%80%

84%

47%

54%

55%

62%

57%

53%

62%

68%

73%

71%

82%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Oct 06 Nov 07 Apr 07 Jun 07 Sept 07 Oct 07 Dec 07


Abdullah Badawi's stated approval rating across races

NOTE: Strongly approve & somewhat approve aggregated.

The PM lost 8 pts in Malay support but biggest loss among ethnic Indians, a drop of

over 30 points in the past one month

Bersih/Hindraf

national poll - dec 2007 - press release

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