theedgemalaysia.com | KUALA LUMPUR (June 23): As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaches the midpoint of his five-year term, a new survey by the Merdeka Center shows a slight rise in his approval rating, with the economy remaining the top concern for most Malaysians.
The poll, conducted between May 12 and May 23, 2025, among 1,208 registered voters, found that Anwar’s approval rating climbed to 55%, up from 51% in June 2024. Support for his unity government also rose to 50%, compared to 40% a year ago, while dissatisfaction dropped from 58% to 48%.
The findings come about a week before the expanded sales and service tax and higher electricity tariff take effect on July 1, rising from 39.95 sen to 45.4 sen per kWh.
Despite the improvement, the survey notes that the narrow gap between approval and disapproval reflects ongoing public concerns over the rising cost of living and potential future subsidy cuts.
According to the poll, inflation was cited as the top issue by 33% of respondents, followed by economic growth (13%). Other concerns included corruption, job opportunities, and race-related fairness, each at 7%.
“Bread-and-butter issues continue to dominate public sentiment, more than foreign policy or political speeches,” the Merdeka Center said in a statement.
Analysts believe that the absence of major price shocks following the 2024 diesel subsidy removal helped ease public anxiety. Additionally, greater political stability and institutional reforms, including the revived Parliamentary Services Act 2025, have contributed to a more favourable view of the current administration.
Meanwhile, public perception of the country’s direction has improved. The survey found that 50% of respondents feel Malaysia is heading in the wrong direction, down from 61% a year ago. Conversely, 43% believe the country is on the right track, a rise from just 29% in June 2024.
The survey involved Malaysians aged 18 and above, contacted via mobile phone. Respondents were selected using random stratified sampling to reflect the national population in terms of ethnicity, age, gender, and location. Coverage included all 14 states and 222 parliamentary constituencies, with interviews conducted in the respondents’ preferred languages. The margin of error is estimated at about 2.82%.