Welcome to Merdeka Center

"Sarawak will remain with BN"
14-July-2010, TheNut Graph
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 July 2010: The Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to rule Sarawak for at least two more state elections, said a Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) political scientist. More...

Skewed leaders main threat
14-July-2010, The Star Online
KUALA LUMPUR: Corrupt leaders are the main threat to the position of the Malays and bumiputras, a survey here found. More...

BN will win Sarawak, poll shows
14-July-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 – A public opinion poll has predicted Sarawak Barisan Nasional (BN) will win big in state polls expected soon, suggesting a recent DAP win in the Sibu by-election two months ago did not indicate waning support for Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud's 29 year rule. More...

Poll: Pakatan has little prospect in S'wak
13-July-2010, Malaysiakini
A mere 11.2 percent of Sarawakians are willing to vote for the opposition, according to a survey by independent pollsters Merdeka Centre in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas). More...

Pakatan needs 20pc swing to capture Sarawak
13-July-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — A five per cent voter swing in Election 2008 saw Pakatan Rakyat (PR) take charge of five state governments in peninsular Malaysia, but the Barisan Nasional's (BN) rivals in Sarawak will need four times that to unseat the ruling front. More...

BN Still The Choice For Sarawakians, Survey Shows
13-July-2010, Bernama Online
KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- The Sibu by-election held last May raised some doubts as to Barisan Nasional's grip over Sarawak but recent poll conducted by an independent body has proved otherwise. More...

NEWS RELEASE 14 JULY 2010: Malaysian Voter Values Survey 2010 - Political Typology. More..

Majority of Malaysians feel powerless, survey finds
09-July-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — A disconnect between the government and the public has resulted in a majority of Malaysians feeling powerless in bringing about change in the country, a new poll of voters has found. More...

Poll shows divided Malays
09-July-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 — Malays are split over whether affirmative action should continue and if they actually benefit enough from government programmes, a public opinion poll on political values show. More...

NEWS RELEASE 9 JULY 2010: Survey: Malaysians split over the direction of national unity. More..

Local govt elections won't happen, says Nazri
22-June-2010, The Malay Mail
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is still ruling out the return of local government elections. A recent survey conducted by independent opinion research firm Merdeka Center revealed that 71% of its respondents were in favour of the third vote. More...

Most back elections for local councils
17-June-2010, NST Online
KUALA LUMPUR: Over 70 per cent of Malaysians want elections for local government, according to a Merdeka Center survey last month. However, the survey also found that slightly less than half of the respondents or 45 per cent of them fully understood what was meant by local government elections. More...

Majority want local government elections, polls show
16-June-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — Over 70 per cent of voters contacted in a Merdeka Centre survey support local government elections while only 16 per cent rejected the concept. More...

Survey claims Najib 'walks the talk' ... but Opposition dismisses poll results
11-June-2010, The Malay Mail
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak received a boost when the latest survey by the Merdeka Centre found his popularity rose to 72%, up from 69% in April this year, thus reinforcing the feeling that the country is moving in the right direction. More...

Poll shows discontent over Aminulrasyid case
09-June-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — Nearly 60 per cent of respondents in a new poll by Merdeka Center were dissatisfied with the police handling of the April shooting of a 14-year-old-boy in Shah Alam. More...

Najib's approval rating up
09-June-2010, The Straits Times, Singapore
PETALING JAYA - MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's approval rating has increased to 72 per cent, up by 3 per cent since April this year, according to a Merdeka Centre survey. More...

Najib's Approval Rating Rises To 72 Per Cent - Merdeka Centre
09-June-2010, Bernama Online
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's approval rating soared to 72 per cent, up from 69 per cent in April, according to a study conducted by an opinion research firm, Merdeka Centre. More...

Najib’s ratings breach 70pc mark
08-June-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s approval ratings rose slightly in the latest Merdeka Center survey released today, rising from 69 per cent in April to 72 per cent in May bolstered by a sense that the nation was headed in the right direction. More...

Najib's approval rating rises
08-June-2010, The Star Online
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's approval rating is on the rise, according to a Merdeka Centre survey. The survey showed that Najib's latest approval rating went to 72%, from 69% in April this year. More...

Perkasa complements Umno, say MPs
05-Apr-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — Umno lawmakers said today Perkasa complements the ruling Malay political party and should not be seen as a threat. More...

Najib's Approval Rating Moves Upwards To 68 Per Cent
02-Apr-2010, Bernama.com
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 (Bernama) -- The proportion of Malaysians satisfied with Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's performance as the Prime Minister stands at 68 per cent after 12 months in office as the sixth premier, reports The Malaysian Insider quoting the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research survey. More...

Najib approval rating climbs to 68pc
02-Apr-2010, The Temasek Review
Datuk Seri Najib Razak is in a stronger position today than he was 12 months ago, when he was appointed Malaysia’s sixth prime minister, a recent survey has shown. More...

Najib approval rating climbs to 68pc
02-Apr-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak is in a stronger position today than he was 12 months ago, when he was appointed Malaysia’s sixth prime minister, a recent survey has shown. More...

Tee Keat favoured choice of Chinese voters, poll shows
26-Mar-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — Incumbent MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s re-election campaign was given a major boost today, after a Merdeka Center poll found that he was the preferred choice among Chinese Malaysian voters. More...

Tee Keat claims he is now the favourite
26-Mar-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 —With just two days left in the campaign, incumbent MCA presidential candidate Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is claiming that the balance of support has tipped in his favour, undermining speculation that he is the underdog in the presidential race. More...

NEWS RELEASE 25 Mar 2010: Majority of Chinese voters say that MCA is relevant but have mixed feelings about party election. More...

Zambry’s ‘peace and prosperity’ strategy to win over voters
11-Feb-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir, who was yesterday recognised by the Federal Court as the lawful Perak Mentri Besar, said today he is following a strategy of “peace and prosperity” to win over an electorate that has been sharply split for the past one year by the state’s constitutional crisis. More...

Two things we learned from the Perak fiasco — The Malaysian Insider
09-Feb-2010, The Malaysian Insider
FEB 9 — Firstly, the courts are not the final arbiter. Such is the decaying state of institutions in Malaysia that these days a Federal Court decision is treated as just another decision. It does not have the gravitas of the US Supreme Court, judgments do not have clarity nor authority of the House of Lords, Supreme Court of India or the highest court of Canada. More...

Majority of Perak voters want fresh elections, poll shows
05-Feb-2010, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 — Nearly three in four voters, or 74 per cent, feel that fresh state elections remain the best way to resolve the political crisis in Perak, a new poll conducted on the eve of the first anniversary of Barisan Nasional’s controversial takeover of the government shows. More...

NEWS RELEASE 5 Feb 2010: Perak Voter Survey February 2010. More...

Foes unimpressed with Najib’s Umno popularity
31-Dec-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The whopping 93 per cent popularity rating received by Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from within his own party comes as no surprise to his political rivals. More...

Poll shows strong Umno backing for Najib
30-Dec-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak appears to have won overwhelming support from his own party, with a recent poll showing 93 per cent of Umno delegates saying the country was headed in the right direction, largely because of the “quality of national leadership” and “good administration”. More...

Malaysians see country as seriously corrupt
26-Nov-2009, Angus Reid
Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in Malaysia say corruption is rampant in the country, according to a poll by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research. 40 per cent of respondents say corruption is a very serious issue in Malaysia, while 41 per cent say it is a somewhat serious problem. More...

Papers and TV zoom in on graft
17-Nov-2009, The Star online
KUALA LUMPUR: Newspapers and television are still the major source of information on corruption for the public despite the existence of blogs and online news portals, a survey found. More...

Graft is most serious problem country faces, new poll shows
16-Nov-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 — Corruption and abuse of power is the most important problem which needs to be solved, a new survey of voters in the country released today showed. More...

Who speaks for Islam in Malaysia?
11-Nov-2009, The Malaysian Insider
NOV 11 — Some time ago I was interviewed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for a radio feature, and was asked about “… the creeping conservatism of (Islam) in Malaysia)…”. More...

Independent polls gaining influence
09-Nov-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — When the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak was unseated through defections in February, the local people were clearly unhappy. More...

MCA chief polls 32% from Chinese community over Chua’s 5%
09-Oct-2009, The Star Online
PETALING JAYA: A Merdeka Centre poll found that MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat was the preferred choice to lead the party instead of suspended deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. More...

Honeymoon over for Malaysian PM as popularity drops
08-Oct-2009, Channel News Asia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's popularity ratings have dropped, according to a poll released on Thursday which indicated that excitement over his appointment six months ago had faded. More...

Six months on, Najib’s approval rating dips slightly
08-Oct-2009, Sin Chew Jit Poh
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (The Malaysian Insider) -- Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s approval rating has fallen slightly, with 56 per cent of Malaysians satisfied with his performance as Prime Minister, compared with a high of 65 per cent in June, according to a new poll released today. More...

Voters not convinced Pakatan can run federal government
08-Oct-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 – A majority of voters in peninsular Malaysia remain unconvinced Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is a viable alternative to Barisan Nasional (BN) to rule the country at federal level although they are largely satisfied with the way states under the fledgling coalition is being administered, a new poll shows. More...

Najib failing to win back voters
08-Oct-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 – Prime Minister Najib Razak heads into his party’s annual meeting next week promising reforms to stem corruption in a bid to reignite the waning appeal of a government that has ruled for 52 years. More...

MCA EGM: Ong Having The Upperhand?
08-Oct-2009, Bernama Online
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- As the MCA's "triple 10" Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) approaches - at 10am on the 10th day of the 10th month this Saturday - many party insiders believe the 2,377-odd central delegates who would be voting in it have more or less made up their minds. More...

Voters averse to tainted leaders, poll shows
08-Oct-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 – Umno appears headed for victory in this weekend’s Bagan Pinang vote, but a huge majority of voters in peninsular Malaysia disagree with Barisan Nasional’s (BN) choice of a tainted candidate, a new poll shows. More...

NEWS RELEASE 8 Oct 2009: PM’s approval rating remains in positive territory. More...

Khalid and Selangor gov’t get thumbs up
20-July-2009, Malaysian Mirror
SHAH ALAM – The majority of the people of Selangor appears to be happy with the Pakatan Rakyat state government, according to a survey. More...

Keeping a pulse on the nation
19-July-2009, The Star Online
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak received a tremendous boost recently when his rating approval was reported to be at 65%, up from 46% in mid-May and 42% when he first took office in April. More...

A political honeymoon in Malaysia
18-July-2009, Philippine Daily Inquirer
Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Najib Rajak, who has just completed his first hundred days in office, must be pleased with the new poll of the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research, that last July 8th reported public satisfaction with his performance at 65 percent, up from 45 percent in May, “thanks to a raft of announcements relating to economic policies, an inclusive message on inter-community unity via his One Malaysia concept, as well as conciliatory gestures over Malay unity.” More...

Poll shows high approval ratings for Selangor government
17-July-2009, The Malaysian Insider
SHAH ALAM, July 15 — A recent survey in Selangor shows that 60 per cent of those polled feel that the state is heading in the right direction while 63 per cent are satisfied with the performance of the mentri besar. More...

Cracks begin to appear in opposition alliance
16-July-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Selangor, the jewel in the crown for Pakatan Rakyat (PR), looks to be losing its lustre for the opposition coalition. More...

Poll: 63% approval for Khalid
15-July-2009, The Nut Graph
PETALING JAYA, 15 July 2009: Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was given the thumbs up by 63% of respondents in an independent poll conducted last month, while 19% were unsatisfied with his performance. More...

Malaysians Increasingly Happy with PM Najib
15-July- 2009, Angus Reid Global Monitor
Malaysia’s prime minister enjoys a high level of public support, according to a poll by Merdeka Center for Opinion Research. 65 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Najib Razak’s performance, up 21 points since May. More...

Politics of language
14-July-2009, My Sinchew.com
SOME WEEKS AGO I wrote about a letter I received from a person who shall not be named which began with the words “With referencing to the above, please see my bottom”. Having read my article, many people begged me to reveal the identity of the person guilty of such appalling English. More...

Opinion polls suddenly hot in Malaysia
14-July-2009, The Straits Times Singapore
Reme Ahmad mulls the relatively new phenomenon of using data to read polls. THE first time I heard about Merdeka Center for Opinion Research was just after the 2004 elections. The then-Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi had won big-time, and The Straits Times needed fresh analysts to give opinions rather than the same tired names. More...

The 101st Day
13-July-2009, My Sinchew.com
I believe that the Prime Minister had a sweet 100th day in office. The reaction from the civil society is better than expected. Leaders of many countries will envy the 65% approval rating. More...

Battle for rural vote
13-July-2009, The Straits Times Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S ruling party prepared Monday for a special state election considered a test of its support among the country's Malay majority - one that an Islamic opposition group is expected to win. More...

Government KPI only ready next June
13-July-2009, The Malaysian Insider
PUTRAJAYA, July 13 — The much-talked about government report card to show how well ministers and their ministries are performing will only be out next June, said Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon today. More...

New measures for M'sia
12-July-2009, The Straits Times Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - RIDING on a wave of rising public support, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday announced a slew of populist measures targeted at the man in the street, to mark his 100th day in office. More....

Malaysia PM marks 100 days with populist measures
12-July-2009, Hindu.com
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's leader announced economic sweeteners for the public to mark his first 100 days in office, but opposition critics accused him Sunday of relying on populist measures like ``an early Christmas Santa Claus'' to strengthen his support. More...

Indians Support For PM Has Increased
12-July-2009, Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- A random survey by the MIC revealed that the support from the Indian community for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's leadership has increased, its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today. More...

Kit Siang wonders if Najib will be tempted to hold snap polls
12-July-2009, The Malaysian Insider
PETALING JAYA, July 12 — The prime minister's rise in approval ratings may mean a snap poll as soon as November, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang predicted today. More...

Malaysian PM marks first 100 days in office with improved ratings
11-July-2009 Channel NewsAsia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak marks his first hundred days in office on Saturday, with a significant improvement in approval ratings. More...

Stand by your man
11-July-2009,The Star Online
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has worked non-stop since being sworn in as Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s No 2 but he has also learned to smile more and even to laugh at himself. More...

Criticisms Don't Mean I Don't Support Govt - Tun M
10-July-2009, Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said although he often criticised the government, it did not mean that he was not supporting the administration. More...

Malaysia's Mahathir gives thumbs down to new PM
10-July-2009, The China Post
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad on Friday gave a thumbs down to Prime Minister Najib Razak's first 100 days in office, saying there has been "more negatives than positives" under the new administration. More...

NEWS RELEASE 9 JUNE 2010: Malaysian voters have mixed views on government KPIs - survey. More...

Malaysia PM approval rating surges in new poll
09-July-2009, Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Reuters) - The approval rating of Malaysia's new prime minister has surged to 65 percent from from 42 percent in mid-May, according to a poll from the independent Merdeka Center published on Wednesday. More...

Najib gaining public approval
09-July-2009, The Star Online
More and more Malaysians are giving the thumbs-up to the Prime Minister and his moves. IT’S a ringing endorsement for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak ahead of his 100 days in office as Prime Minister. More...

Malaysia Ends Use of English in Science and Math Teaching
08-July-2009, The New York Times
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia will revert to using its national language, Bahasa Malaysia, to teach science and math starting in 2012, abandoning a six-year English policy that the government said had failed to improve student grades. More...

Still a ways to go for Najib
08-July-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Yes, his approval rating is up. Yes, the majority of Malaysians have confidence in his handling of the economy. Yes, nearly 50 per cent of Malaysians believe that he makes a better prime minister than Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. More...

Voters back fresh Perak polls in new survey
08-July-2009, The Malaysia Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Despite giving Datuk Seri Najib Razak a high approval rating as the country’s new prime minister, Malaysians appeared to view the continuing political tussle in Perak as a major black mark for the new administration. More...

Polls show majority support for English policies
08-July-2009, The Malaysia Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The majority of Malaysians want the teaching of mathematics and science in English to continue, the latest survey by an independent polling house shows. More...

Najib scores a pass with 65pc
07-July-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 – When he entered office in early April, he owned one of the lowest approval ratings of any incoming Malaysian Prime Minister. One hundred days later and after a slew of measures to reform the economy, Malaysians appear to be warming up to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, a latest survey by an independent polling house shows. More...

Wooing the Indian Malaysian vote
03-July-2009
ON 25 Nov 2007, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) burst into public consciousness through a mammoth street rally. Few doubt that Hindraf was pivotal in swinging Indian Malaysian votes away from the Barisan Nasional (BN) three months later in the March 2008 general election. More...

Detachment despite more political savvy
01-July-2009, The Edge
KUALA LUMPUR: A survey carried out by public opinion pollster Merdeka Center found that Malaysian youths have become less confident that their vote can influence the government. More...

PM's post: Gender, race, religion don't matter to youths
01-July-2009, Malaysiakini
Race or religion shouldn't be a criteria and if the candidate was a she, they really wouldn't mind. This is the opinion of Malaysian youths when asked on the specifics of who should occupy the prime minister's seat. More...

Malaysian youths remain politically disconnected: Poll
01-July-2009, New Sabah times
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian youths in general appear to be well informed on current issues but they remain politically disconnected as found in a nationwide opinion poll released yesterday. More...

Graft fight is top concern of young
01-July-2009, New Straits Times Online
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian youth today are less interested in inter-racial issues and would like to see politicians deal with other issues like managing the economy, fighting corruption and listening more to the people. More...

NEWS RELEASE 30 JUNE 2009: Merdeka Center poll: Youth well informed but politically disconnected. More...

ACB Cops To Target Brunei Biz Crooks
04-June-2009, Bru Direct - Brunei
Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei's anti-corruption cops are to put the screws on crooked businessmen instead of civil servants who are comparatively clean. Findings showed that the business and the private sector in Brunei are perceived to be the most affected by corruption, which stands at 44 per cent as opposed to public officials and civil servants at 33 per cent. More...

Dr M confident economy can move to high income
03-June-2009, The Star online
PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is confident the National Economic Advisory Council can help the Government turn Malaysia’s economy from middle to high income. More...

Najib yet to win back public
02-June-2009, Strait Times - Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - PREMIER Najib Razak's efforts to win back support have some way to go yet as only 45 per cent of Malaysians say they are satisfied with his performance, a survey by an independent pollster revealed yesterday. More...

If it’s the economy can Pakatan match up with BN?
02-June-2009, The Malaysian Insider
JUNE 2 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should be concerned. No, not about the shabby turnout of voters in the Penanti by-election or the perverse logic by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that Barisan Nasional (BN) was the real victor in Sunday’s electoral contest. More...

Economy and security still main concern of Malaysians
01-June2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 – Bread and butter plus security issues are at the top of Malaysian minds, the first public opinion poll conducted since Datuk Seri Najib Razak took over as prime minister two months ago revealed. More...

Najib’s approval ratings up (Updated)
01-June-2009, The Nut Graph
PETALING JAYA, 1 June 2009: Forty-five percent of voters from peninsular Malaysia are satisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, according to a recent survey by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research. More...

Survey shows only 45pc of Malaysians happy with Najib
01-June-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Less than two months into his administration, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak only has the thumbs up from 45 per cent of Malaysians polled recently, with nearly four out of 10 refusing to even answer the question. More...

What liberalisation? Most Malaysians still don't know
01-June-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — Just how well do Malaysians understand the recent economic liberalisation policies announced by the prime minister? Not very, according to a survey conducted by a local research company. More...

NEWS RELEASE 1 JUNE 2009: Voter concerns on political stability subside, but worries about the economy remain. More...

Barisan must reclaim the middle ground
09-Apr-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — A day after Tuesday's by-elections, the message for the ruling Barisan Nasional is clearer than ever: It has to rethink its race-based strategy. Tuesday's two losses meant four straight victories in Peninsular Malaysia for the opposition alliance, Pakatan Rakyat, since the 2008 general election. More...

Malaysian Prime Minister To Resign April 2
01-Apr-2009, Journal of Turkish Weekly
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi delivers his speech at a United Malays National Organization (UMNO) general assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 28 Mar 2009. More...

Najib wants 'One Malaysia'
01-Apr-2009, The Malaysia Insider
PUTRAJAYA , April 1 - In his final public address before his expected swearing in as prime minister on Friday, Datuk Seri Najib Razak gave a hopeful glimpse into his administration today when he said that the new thrust of his government will be One Malaysia, or 1Malaysia as it is also known. More...

All the president’s men — Carolyn Hong
27-Mar-2009, The Malaysian Insider
MARCH 27 — When Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak appealed to Umno delegates to vote him a good team, he had an unspoken list in mind. By the time the two-day party elections closed, it appeared that he did get most of what he wanted. More...

Umno's ticking time bomb
16-Mar-2009, New Straits Times
BRINGING more offenders to book will perhaps convince the public that Umno has indeed begun a new chapter in its fight against money politics. Until and unless it weeds out the menace plaguing it for decades, public perception of its commitment, despite assurances from its leadership, will not change. More...

Public all for direct-voting proposal
15-Mar-2009, New Straits Times
IT is seen as an individual's opinion, but the direct voting for posts in Umno, proposed by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, has got the endorsement of the public. A Merdeka Centre survey last month indicated that 57 per cent of the 1,031 respondents from various racial groups and ages agreed to the proposal. More...

Entering the final lap
15-Mar-2009, The Star Online
Umno politics is about to take centrestage. The spotlight is on the contest for the deputy presidency amid expectations that on March 24, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will send out signals on who he prefers as his No 2. More...

For majority, Umno polls not internal affair
13-Mar-2009, New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: A vast majority of Malaysians want Umno delegates to consider their views when choosing their party leaders. Eight in 10 of the 1,031 voters surveyed by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research did not think that the Umno elections was merely an internal party affair. More...

Umno corrupt: survey
13-Mar-2009, The Sraits Times
KUALA LUMPUR - UMNO has received a slap in the face just ahead of its key annual meeting, with many voters polled in a survey seeing Malaysia's biggest political party as corrupt and out of touch with the ground. Respondents to the survey also said that International Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was the best choice for the deputy prime minister's position, a contrast from Umno pundits, who expect another leader to emerge as the new No. 2. More...

Muhyiddin, Mukhriz, Shahrizat popular for Umno top posts
12-Mar-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR March 12 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil have been endorsed as Umno's top officials by more than half of 1,031 registered voters surveyed recently. More...

Graft charge hits Malaysia ruling party polls
13-Mar-2009, International Herald Tribune
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Prosecutors charged a top ruling party official with bribery Friday, sending shock waves through Malaysia's political ranks ahead of party elections that many fear will be marred by corruption. More...

Most Malaysians want a say in Umno leaders polls
12-Mar-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 - Most Malaysians surveyed want their views considered in choosing Umno leaders and they also say that corruption is the most serious problem afflicting the party that has provided every prime minister since independence in 1957. More...

Malaysians want stake in Umno leadership selection
12-Mar-2009, The Edge Daily
A national voter survey indicated that most Malaysians insist to have a say in the selection of Umno leaders. The poll, conducted by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Reseach, revealed that 79% of voters say "Umno delegates must take into consideration the views of ordinary Malaysians in determining Umno leadership line-up as it influences national politics". More...

Malaysia ruling party rocked by bribery probe
12-Mar-2009, International Herald Tribune
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's ruling party was rocked Thursday by a high-level investigation involving bribery allegations and a prominent minister preparing to run in a party election that will shape the next administration. More...

NEWS RELEASE 12 Mar 2009: Malaysians want their views to be considered in the selection of UMNO leaders – survey (Malay Version). More...

Pakatan treads carefully as royalty flexes muscle
14-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — While Barisan Nasional may yet pay at the ballot box over its ruthless power grab in Perak, its aggressive foray has put Pakatan Rakyat on the ropes, with its parties mulling an uncertain future and the possibility of a powerful enemy it could do without — the Malay Rulers. More...

For Pak Lah, the party’s over and it’s time to leave — The Malaysian Insider
13-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — In sports jargon, it is called clock mismanagement, staying on the field even after it is obvious that playing skills that once thrilled millions have diminished. In politics, it is called overstaying your welcome, holding on to the position even when it is obvious that the aura and power that once captivated millions are missing. More...

BN sees dip in popularity following Perak takeover
13-Feb-2009, the Edge Daily
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) may have retaken Perak, but its popularity has taken a hit, an independent survey revealed yesterday. Pollster Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research conducted a survey on Feb 6-8, a day after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s announcement that BN had recaptured Perak last week. According to the survey, 41% of the 507 respondents said they could not accept state governments formed via the defection of state assembly persons. More...

Malaysia's new PM faces referendum in April polls
13-Feb-2009, Reuters India
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Malaysia's incoming prime minister will face his first referendum in two simultaneous by-elections just days after taking office in early April. The polls, to be held a month after the government's rollout of a second stimulus package, will also gauge public acceptance of Najib Razak's management of a country whose exports are tumbling and whose economy looks set to slide into its first likely recession in eight years. More...

No end in sight to Perak standoff
13-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — The political stand-off in Perak is unlikely to end soon as opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat keeps up the pressure despite former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin's decision to leave his official residence. More...

M'sians rebuff power grab
13-Feb-2009, The Straits Times, Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - THE Malaysian ruling coalition's takeover of a northern state has been given the thumbs-down by voters, according to a poll released on Thursday ahead of two critical by-elections. The by-elections, one for a seat in national parliament and the other for the state assembly in Kedah, are being seen as a referendum on the Barisan Nasional coalition's conduct in Perak state. More...

Poll: Sultan’s decision contrary to people’s will
12-Feb-2009, The Nut Graph
PETALING JAYA, 12 Feb 2009: A new poll has found that the Perak Ruler's decision not to call for snap elections to solve the political imbroglio in the state is unpopular with Perakians. A total 62% of a 507-voter sample polled by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research felt that the role of the palace in this case "does not reflect the will of the people of Perak". More...

In case you weren’t sure... hear it from the people of Perak
12-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
IPOH, FEB 12 — If the Barisan Nasional and the Perak royal household had any lingering doubts about negative public sentiment towards the change of the state government, here is a message: doubt no more. More...

NEWS RELEASE 12 Feb 2009: Majority of Perak Voters Prefer Elections – Survey. More...

Q+A-What Malaysia state win says about incoming PM
05-Feb-2009, Nanyang 100, Singapore
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who will assume the country's top job next month, pulled off a political coup by wresting control of the opposition held state of Perak via the defection of lawmakers. More...

No room for corruption
04-Feb-2009, The Star Online
IT is laudable that the voice of public opinion is increasingly becoming stronger in shaping how our government is run. The poll by the Merdeka Center of Opinion Research is a good example of this positive development. More...

Najib beats Anwar at his own game — The Malaysian Insider
04-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been outfoxed. The soft belly of Pakatan Rakyat has been exposed. No right-thinking Barisan Nasional state assemblymen or MPs will even contemplate crossing the political divide, not after what happened to Datuk Nasarudin Hashim in Perak. More...

98% say ‘no’ to corrupt leaders holding top govt posts
04-Feb-2009, The Sun
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3, 2009) : A whopping 98% of the people will not accept politicians involved in corruption holding a senior government post. This was the finding of the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research from a voter survey conducted between Dec 26, 2008 and Jan 2 this year. The survey interviewed 1,018 randomly selected registered voters via telephone. More...

EDITORIAL: Attitude adjustment
04-Feb-2009, New Straits Times
THE usual caveats apply: the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research sampled the responses of just 1,018 people for its "Fourth Quarter 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Survey" to arrive at that all-important quantitative assessment of subjective emotions that is the raison d'etre of all such surveys, allowing them to extrapolate the data to venture a purportedly realistic portrait of the sentiments of an entire society. That's an important caution to bear in mind when considering the results. More...

Najib's ratings fall
03-Feb-2009, Straits Times, Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - THE approval rating of Malaysia's incoming prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, continues to fall, amid increasing unhappiness among Malaysians over the government's handling of important issues in recent months. Just 41 per cent believe current Deputy Prime Minister Najib will be a good PM, a survey of 1,018 Malaysian voters by independent pollster Merdeka Centre late last month showed. More...

Umno’s road to perdition
03-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
FEB 3 — Membership has its privileges, so went the American Express tagline that set it apart from all the no-fee-pay-as-little-as-you-can credit cards available in the market. Umno members probably feel the same way about their party. A recent protest against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating corruption in the party and the covert campaign to stop suspended Umno warlord Datuk Ahmad Ismail from facing sedition charges has reinforced the point that Umno members feel they are only subject to party laws. More...

Poll: Low Public Faith In Next Leader
03-Feb-2009, Sin Chew Jit Poh
KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysians have little faith in their country's prime minister-in-waiting, a survey showed Tuesday (3 Feb), less than two months before he is due to take power in a bid to revive the government's popularity. More...

Sorry state of affairs
03-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
FEB 3 — Got to feel sorry for Malaysians. The economy grew by just over 1 per cent in the last quarter. If everything goes well, the country will stay clear of negative territory, managing 0.5 per cent growth in 2009. The number of retrenchments is climbing by the day, with the possibility of unemployment climbing as high as 6 per cent. More...

Only 41% think Najib will be good PM: Survey
03-Feb-2009, Straits Times, Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: The approval rating of Malaysia's incoming prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, continues to fall, amid increasing unhappiness among Malaysians over the government's handling of important issues in recent months. Just 41 per cent believe current Deputy Prime Minister Najib will be a good PM, a survey of 1,018 Malaysian voters by independent pollster Merdeka Centre late last month showed. More...

Majority wants Science, Maths taught in English
03-Feb-2009, The Star Online
PETALING JAYA: Although there have been objections from sections in the public on the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, a recent poll conducted by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research suggests that the majority are for it. More...

Economy & race top concerns for voters: Poll
02-Feb-2009, New Straits Times
Economic and race-related issues were the top concerns for voters in Peninsular Malaysia as they entered the new year, a poll released yesterday revealed. More than 430 people, or 43 per cent, of the Fourth Quarter 2008 Peninsular Malaysia Voter Opinion Survey respondents ranked “unfavourable economic conditions”, “rising cost of living” and “unemployment” as the three most troubling issues. More...

Low approval for Najib, Pak Lah in new poll as power transfer looms
02-Feb-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his successor Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak have one thing in common: the majority of Malaysians are ambivalent about them. More...

NEWS RELEASE 2 Feb 2009: Economic issues top voter concerns entering the New Year. More...

Making sense of KT polls
23-Jan-2009, New Straits Times
AS Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional analysts sieve through the reports on ground sentiments and crunch the numbers on the Kuala Terengganu by-election, three places -- Kuala Ibai, Pantai Cendering and Taman Permint Jaya -- should attract their attention. More...

Malaysian Election Defeat May Signal Waning Support for Najib
18-Jan-2009, Bloomberg
Jan. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysia’s National Front lost a regional election, signaling waning support for incoming Prime Minister Najib Razak after the ruling coalition suffered its worst-ever election result last year. More...

PAS claims victory
17-Jan-2009, Strait Times, Singapore
KUALA TERENGGANU - MALAYSIA'S opposition on Saturday snatched a parliamentary seat from the beleaguered coalition government, in a by-election seen as a test of the nation's political mood. The opposition alliance said the victory in northeastern Terengganu state was a huge boost to its campaign to seize power after it won a third of parliamentary seats and five states in landmark general elections last year. More...

BN policies are fair: Najib
15-Jan-2009, Strait Times, Singapore
KUALA TERENGGANU - MALAYSIAN Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak sought to reassure Chinese voters here that the government is not discriminatory after a survey showed that the Chinese vote in Kuala Terengganu may have tilted in favour of the opposition. 'I hope that all will support the Barisan Nasional because what we have achieved today is the result of the BN's policies. Our policies are fair,' he said yesterday ahead of the Kuala Terengganu by-election on Saturday. More...

RPT-PREVIEW-Race key to Malaysia coalition chances
15-Jan-2009, Reuters, India
KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Malaysia's government, still reeling from a poor showing in the 2008 election, faces a key by-election test on Saturday of whether it can rebuild its multi-ethnic coalition. While the poor rural seat of Kuala Terengganu in the northeast of this Asian country of 27 million is mostly Malay, the 11.6 percent ethnic Chinese population is seen as the swing vote that will decide the vote, a test for Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak who will take over the premiership in April. More...

BN confident of crucial Chinese votes
15-Jan-2009, The Edge Daily
KUALA TERENGGANU: Barisan Nasional (BN) is confident of getting crucial support from Chinese voters in Kuala Terengganu despite opinion polls suggesting that a majority of Chinese votes might go to PAS, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. More...

Govt is buying votes: Anwar
15-Jan-2009, Strait Times, Singapore
KUALA TERENGGANU - MALAYSIA'S opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday accused the government of vote-buying and coercion as campaigning for a critical weekend by-election intensified. The vote in northeastern Terengganu state, which pundits say is too close to call, is seen as a referendum on the coalition government's performance since a disastrous performance in general elections last year. More...

Malaysia's government on defensive for key ballot
14-Jan-2009, International Herald Tribune
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia's ruling coalition revved up campaigning Wednesday for a special parliamentary election after political analysts warned that the opposition might win. More...

A reversal of roles?
14-Jan-2009, The Malaysian Insider
JAN 14 - As the battle for Kuala Terengganu enters its final lap, indications are the Pas candidate may end up winning the minority Chinese support but losing the majority Malay votes. It would be both significant and hilarious if this happens. More...

To KT voters, it’s the candidate, not the issues, who count
14-Jan-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 14 — After the Election Commission announced the date for the Kuala Terengganu by-election, Pas leaders were still finding it hard to name a suitable candidate for the parliamentary seat, resulting in the party commissioning two surveys. More...

M'sia's govt on defensive
14-Jan-2009, Strait Times, Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S ruling coalition revved up campaigning on Wednesday for a special parliamentary election after political analysts warned that the opposition might win. The heated contest for the seat in northeastern Terengganu state is widely perceived as a barometer of whether the ruling National Front coalition has regained significant support nearly a year after its worst electoral results ever in national polls. More...

0.45pc who can decide the race
14-Jan-2009, New Straits Times
THOUGH the outcome will not change the political equation in Parliament, the Kuala Terengganu by-election is a must-win battle for Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, making every vote cast on Saturday crucial. More...

KT by-election: Voters care more about candidate's mettle than party
14-Jan-2009, New Straits Times
KUALA TERENGGANU: A poll by an independent research organisation has revealed that the majority of voters in the Kuala Terengganu by-election think that a candidate matters more than his party's ideology, its leaders or current issues. More...

Malaysia opposition leads in key by-election - poll
13-Jan-2009, Reuters, India
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leads in a crucial by-election seen as a test for prime minister-in-waiting Najib Razak, according to an opinion poll published on Tuesday. More...

By-election to be a nail-biter
13-Jan-2009, Strait Times, Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR - A CRITICAL Malaysian by-election this weekend will be a nail-biter, according to a poll released Tuesday that found voters are almost evenly split between the government and the opposition. The vote on Saturday in northeastern Terengganu state is being seen as a referendum on the coalition government's performance and reform promises since a disastrous performance in general elections last year. More...

Poll finds KT vote still too close to call
13-January-2009, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 - The Kuala Terengganu by-election remains too close to call, even as the campaign reaches the home stretch, but an independent poll released today suggests the major issue for voters is the "quality of the candidate" while hudud and perceived threats to Malay dominance have little currency. More...

NEWS RELEASE 13 Jan 2009: Candidate quality tops voters’ considerations – Merdeka Center Survey More...

Malaysia heads into critical by-election
06-Jan-2009, AFP
KUALA TERENGGANU, Malaysia (AFP) - Campaigning kicked off Tuesday in a critical by-election that will test the Malaysian government's popularity since disastrous losses in national polls last year. "We must ensure we win this election. We must regain our political strength and influence," said Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is leading the charge for the January 17 vote in northeastern Terengganu state. More...

Malay supremacy finds less support but anxieties over success gap are real
21-Dec-2008, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Call it fate, call it irony, but it did not escape notice that the four who died in the tragic Bukit Antarabangsa landslide two weeks ago belonged to different races. One was Malay, one Chinese, one Indian and one a foreigner, an Indonesian. “The landslide that hit us today did not choose the race of its victims,” The Star's chief editor Wong Chun Wai wrote in his blog that day. More...

Najib admits Malaysians want more openness
02-Dec-2008, The Malaysian Insider
DEC 2 — On one fundamental point, Datuk Seri Najib Razak differs greatly from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man many say will have a strong influence on the next administration. More...

KT by-election will be test of Malay sentiment
02-12-08, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 - The Kuala Terengganu by-election will be more than just about one more notch in Pakatan Rakyat's aim to form the government but it will also show just how effective Umno has been in regaining the Malay ground. More...

Anwar Renews Commitment After Missing Malaysian Power Deadline
02-Dec-2008, Bloomberg.com
Nov. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who missed two deadlines to unseat the government this year, renewed his commitment and urged supporters to be patient as Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak prepares to assume power. More...

Out to woo young voters
23-Nov-2008, The Star
By the next general election, about 20% of the voters could comprise those in their early 20s. Both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are already trying to engage them but will the medium of communication or political aspirations hold greater sway? More...

The traditional media's own worst enemy
04-Nov-2008, The Nut Graph
CONTRARY to popular analyses, it is not the internet that is threatening the traditional media. The biggest enemies of the traditional mass media are the mass media themselves, says Dr Indrajit Banerjee, who is secretary-general for the Singapore-based Asian Media Information and Communication Centre. More...

Najib has much to do
04-Nov-2008, Straits Times - Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi swept into office in 2003 promising a host of changes. Five years down the line, it is these same promises that have led to his downfall as a disillusioned public punished him for failing to meet expectations. As Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak prepares to take over next March, he will be anxious to avoid the same pitfalls. More...

Masa perkukuh UMNO, BN
21-Oct-2008, Utusan Malaysia
Selain memilih pemimpin di peringkat bahagian, mesyuarat bahagian UMNO yang sedang berlangsung pada Oktober dan November ini penting kerana para perwakilan akan turut menamakan calon-calon bagi jawatan tertinggi parti dalam pemilihan pada Mac tahun depan. Lebih penting lagi, barisan kepimpinan tertinggi UMNO yang bakal dipilih akan turut membarisi kepimpinan tertinggi negara ekoran pengumuman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi untuk tidak mempertahankan jawatan Presiden. More...

OPINION: Dump superiority and hear the masses out
17-Oct-2008, NST Online
THE "R" words -- revamp, reform, reinvent, re-engineer, revive, rebrand and revitalise -- were never so prominent in Umno's vocabulary as they have been since the party's poor performance in the March elections, as party members attempt to restore Umno's injured pride. More...

The Malaysian zero sum game
16-Oct-2008, The Malaysian Insider
OCT 16 — The government's hostility towards the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), culminating in the outlawing of the organisation, and Utusan Malaysia's war with Teresa Kok has hardened the position of the nationalist Malay right behind Umno.But it will have done Umno and the Barisan Nasional few favours in winning back the hearts and minds of Malay moderates or the support of the Chinese, Indian and other non-Malay communities. More...

Future spelled out for Malaysia's next leader
09-Oct-2008, International Herald Tribune
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Najib Razak, who is poised to become Malaysia's sixth prime minister, comes from a family of political aristocrats that produced two of the country's last five leaders.Respected for his sharp intellect and unflappable demeanor, Najib was always expected to take power someday. But he will do so sooner than predicted in an effort to restore the ruling coalition's fortunes after a calamitous performance in March general elections. More...

Poll shows most Malaysians want NEP to end
09-Oct-2008, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Seventy-one per cent of Malaysians surveyed in a recent poll agree with the statement that Barisan Nasional's "race-based affirmative action policy is obsolete and must be replaced with a merit-based policy". Surprisingly, the poll, conducted by the independent Merdeka Centre between June 18 and July 29, up to 65 per cent of Malays who were asked the question agreed that race-based affirmative action should be done away, compared with 83 per cent of Chinese and 89 per cent of Indian respondents. More...

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