2011-2015

thejakartapost.com |  19-Sept-2015 – Tens of thousands heeded the call to support Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak against demands by electoral reforms group Bersih for him to step down, but Wednesday’s “red shirts” rally ended up focusing on affirming Malay rights rather than Najib’s leadership.

Indeed, the rally was a clear indicator of how strong the PM’s grip on his ruling party UMNO (United Malays National Organization) is. But it gained him little favor with critics and non- participants, what with some groups turning unruly and scuffling with riot police. It also failed to address the allegations against him.

Najib has faced challenges on numerous fronts since having to fend off charges — from even within his own party — of financial misappropriation in debt-laden state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), whose advisory board he chairs.

Additionally, he is suspected of receiving US$700 million linked to 1MDB that was deposited into his private bank accounts.

While Najib has since eliminated the internal threats by dropping the party’s deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and a vice-president from his Cabinet and replacing the Attorney-General and head of police intelligence in July, his actions contributed to shrinking confidence in the economy.

It was this last straw that prompted Bersih to announce its Aug.29-30 rally as it accused the PM of “taking every possible move to protect corruption” and putting at stake “the credibility of the very institutions of government”.

But the turnout of mostly ethnic Chinese in yellow T-shirts at the Bersih event took on racial overtones, with pro-Najib voices calling it an attempt to usurp the Malays’ political power.

There was an undoubted irony when Najib’s biggest critics – influential former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin, two men known for their pro-Malay stance — spoke out against the red shirts rally. But their criticism was meant to undermine support for Najib.

The PM has disclaimed responsibility for the rally but stopped short of barring UMNO members from taking part. The party chiefs seen mobilizing and leading the large turnout of red shirts showed that Najib’s authority was still solid.

But Oh Ei Sun, from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said that such rallies, Bersih’s included, rarely swayed voters but instead “reinforce voters’ existing preferences”.

He also noted that control of UMNO is often conditional as there are “purse strings attached”, with “political wannabes trying to curry favor”.

Tellingly, many who took to the stage at Padang Merbok — the final assembly point — pressed the PM to revive the controversial Internal Security Act that his government had repealed in 2012.

Poll findings released by the Merdeka Center on Sept. 15 showed that only 24 percent of Malays supported it, with fear of trouble the main reason given to stay away.

That some red shirts bullied their way past police lines and later clashed with riot police, would scarcely have endeared them to the Malay community. The two areas, seen as symbols of Chinese business, had been declared off-limits ahead of the rally.

Merdeka Center’s executive director Ibrahim Suffian said those who were not for the rally would be further turned off by the violence and lack of discipline. – See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/09/19/rally-focus-malay-rights-turns-some.html#sthash.eBftm0sC.dpuf

mysinchew.com | KUALA LUMPUR, 15-Sept-2015 – Do the Malays support the Perhimpunan Rakyat Bersatu tomorrow?

According to a survey conducted by Merdeka Center between September 10 and 15 among Malay residents on Peninsular Malaysia, only 24% of respondents are supportive, with 8% very supportive and 10% somewhat supportive.

On the other hand, as many as 53% of Malays contacted by Merdeka Center say they do not support the rally, of whom 38% are strongly against the rally and 15% somewhat against.

Meanwhile, the remaining 21% of respondents are undecided whether to support the rally for Malay dignity.

malaysiandigest.com | 15-Sept-2015 – Independent pollster Merdeka Center has confirmed what many Malaysians already suspected – majority of the Malays themselves do not support the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu set to take place on Malaysia Day, September 16.

In a press release today, Merdeka Center announced the results of a poll conducted between September 10 to 15 this year nationwide.

The result? Let the numbers speak for themselves.

“53% were not in favor of the upcoming Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu or “Red Shirt” rally to be held on September 16 in Kuala Lumpur.

“The survey found that only 24% of the respondents supported the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu rally while 53% of the respondents did not support and 22% were not sure. The survey found that supporters of the rally were distinguished along gender, urban-rural as well as socio-economic lines.

“Supporters of the rally were mostly drawn from among males (31% as opposed to 17% women), those who were older (27% among those above 40 and 22% among those under 40 years old) and those with internet access (25% compared to 22% of those without).

“Perhaps the most marked findings was that the lack of support for the rally was evident across the political divide, where 56% of Barisan Nasional supporters, 60% of Opposition supporters and 51% of undecided voters reported that they did not support the rally.”

A further analysis of the data they compiled led the pollster to conclude that Malay voters are more concerned with other issues that they perceive as having a more direct impact in their daily life, like cost of living and GST.

“In our opinion, this survey which follows an earlier one related to the August 29th BERSIH 4 rally, reveals that Malay voters were largely not attracted to the issues promoted by the organizers by both rallies (i.e. BERSIH 4 and Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu).

“In our view, Malay voters are at present largely more concerned over fundamental issues such as cost of living, employment and business opportunities as well as the impact of the Goods and Services Tax.”

For a more detailed report on the survey result, you can access the full report here

Malay Mail Online | KUALA LUMPUR, 15-Sept-2015 — Malay voters are more concerned with the rocketing cost of living than attending street protests like Bersih 4 or tomorrow’s high-profile “red shirt” rally touted as a means to uphold their racial dignity, independent pollster Merdeka Center said today.

The research company released a survey today that showed 53 per cent of Malay voters were not in favour of the “Red Shirt” rally called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” [United People’s Rally], while a previous survey indicated that 70 per cent of Malays opposed the Bersih 4 demonstration last month.

“In our opinion, this survey which follows an earlier one related to the August 29th Bersih 4 rally, reveals that Malay voters were largely not attracted to the issues promoted by the organisers by both rallies (i.e. Bersih 4 and Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu),” Merdeka Center said in a statement.

“In our view, Malay voters are at present largely more concerned over fundamental issues such as cost of living, employment and business opportunities as well as the impact of the Goods and Services Tax.

“While the rally may result in a sizable attendance, the survey results suggest that the turnout would be reflective of the mobilisation efforts of its organizers rather than a broad-based participation of the Malay electorate,” the pollster added.

The survey on Malay sentiments towards the “Red Shirt” rally, which was conducted in both urban and rural areas across peninsular Malaysia, showed that the majority who opposed the “Red Shirt” rally cited fears that the demonstration on Malaysia Day tomorrow would create chaos and spark ethnic tensions.

Merdeka Center’s previous survey released on August 28, a day before the overnight Bersih 4 protest by polls reform group Bersih 2.0, showed that Malaysians were split over the demonstration for institutional reforms, with most of those in support of it comprising the non-Malays who live in cities and use the Internet.

The authorities have allowed the September 16 rally, organised by Malay martial arts group Pesaka, to be held at Padang Merbok in the capital city.

There has been mixed messaging over the rally, with the Coalition of Malay NGOs selling red T-shirts promoting the demonstration with slogans in Bahasa Malaysia like “Malay Dignity Uprising” and calling it “Himpunan Maruah Melayu” [Malay Dignity Rally].

Rally organiser Pesaka, however, has insisted that the event is called “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” [United People’s Rally] and that it is open to all Malaysians. The silat group has also said that there was no “red shirt” dress code.

– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/merdeka-center-money-issues-matter-more-to-malays-than-rallies-whether-red#sthash.1SosMEu6.dpuf

The Star Online | PETALING JAYA, 29-Aug-2015 : Forty-seven per cent of respondents in an opinion poll said they are against the Bersih 4 rally compared to 43% who are for it.

The Merdeka Center poll surveyed 1,010 registered voters between Aug 15 and 21, and found that fear of violence and doubts whether Bersih would achieve anything significant were the main reasons cited by those against the rally.

On the other hand, a desire to see improvements in the election process and in Parliament were among the top reasons cited by those supporting Bersih 4.

The respondents comprised 60% Malays, 31% Chinese and 9% Indians. The survey found that supporters of the rally were mostly divided along ethnic, urban-rural and socio-economic lines.

They were mostly urbanites (51%) and those with a mid-level income of more than RM3,000 a month (57%), according to the findings.

Merdeka Center said 81% of the Chinese respondents expressed support for Bersih, compared to 51% for Indians and 23% for Malays.

“The survey reveals a peninsular Malaysia electorate that is polarised along ethnic and socio-economic lines,” said the opinion research firm in a statement.

“While the Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur is likely to attract a high level of participation, the survey suggests that the participants will likely be urban, Internet-savvy and non-Bumiputra voters,” it said.

The Malaysian Insider | 28-Aug-2015 – Malaysians are split in their opinions of tomorrow’s Bersih 4 rally, a recent survey by independent pollster Merdeka Centre has found, with 43% viewing it favourably as opposed to 47% who do not support the assembly.

The survey found that while 48% of the men surveyed were in support of Bersih 4, only 39% of women had the same opinion. Fifty-one percent of urban voters viewed the rally favourably but among the rural folk, only 31% supported it.

Similarly, 57% of those from households earning more than RM3,000 a month were supportive of Bersih and only 28% of those who come from households earning less than RM3,000 were in favour of the rally.

But the disparity between those who were in support of Bersih 4 was more evident in the race category, where it was found that Chinese supporters of Bersih made up more than three times the percentage of Malays who were in favour of the rally.
“Perhaps the most marked finding was that the rally was supported by 81% of the ethnic Chinese respondents and 51% of the ethnic Indian respondents but only favoured by 23% of the ethnic Malay voters interviewed,” Merdeka Center said in a statement today.

The 1,010 people surveyed were randomly selected from Peninsular Malaysia along the lines of ethnicity, gender, age and parliament constituencies and were interviewed between August 15 and August 21.

Most of the respondents (39%), who were in favour of Bersih, said that their reasons for doing so was because they wanted to see improvement in institutions such as the electoral process and Parliament.

Twenty-five percent said that they wanted to express their unhappiness with the government, while 13% said they wanted to show their dissatisfaction towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Another 11% said they wanted to express anger over the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST).

Most who voted unfavourably for the Bersih 4 rally said they feared the violence and chaos that could possibly take place during the rally (52%), while 22% felt that Bersih will not achieve anything significant with the gathering.

A small percentage (4%) feared that the Malays would be marginalised if Najib was forced to step down.

“In our opinion, the survey reveals a Peninsular Malaysia electorate that is polarized along ethnic and socio-economic lines,” Merdeka Center said.

“While the Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur is likely going to attract a high level of participation in terms of crowd size, as indicated by the overwhelming sale of merchandise and donations received by the organiser, the survey suggests that participants will likely be drawn from urban, Internet-savvy and non-Bumiputera voters,” the pollster added.

The Bersih 4 rally, which has been declared illegal by the police, is taking place this weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu as well as major cities around the world.

It will kick off at 2pm tomorrow and is to scheduled to continue for the next 34 hours.

The rally, organised by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0, is pressing for institutional reforms, the freedom to protest, measures to save the economy and a clean government and political system.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said the rally would be akin to a vote of no-confidence against Najib, who is under pressure to account for alleged scandals involving his brainchild 1Malaysia Development Berhad and RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal accounts. – August 28, 2015.

Malay Mail Online | KUALA LUMPUR, 28-Aug-2015 ― Malaysians are split over the Bersih 4 rally, with most of those backing tomorrow’s protest comprising the non-Bumiputera who live in cities and use the Internet, Merdeka Center said today.

According to the independent pollster, the survey held between August 15 and 21 revealed that 47 per cent of respondents did not favour Bersih 4, compared to 43 per cent who felt otherwise about the overnight demonstration scheduled this weekend by polls reform group Bersih 2.0.

“In our opinion, the survey reveals a Peninsular Malaysia electorate that is polarised along ethnic and socio-economic lines,” said Merdeka Center in a statement that accompanied the report today.

“While the Bersih rally in Kuala Lumpur is likely going to attract a high level of participation in terms of crowd size, as indicated by the overwhelming sale of merchandise and donations received by the organiser, the survey suggests that participants will likely be drawn from urban, Internet-savvy and non-Bumiputera voters,” the pollster added.

At 81 per cent, an overwhelming section of the ethnic Chinese polled supported Bersih 4, compared to 70 per cent of Malays who opposed the rally.

While 51 per cent of urban respondents supported Bersih 4, 57 per cent of those in rural areas opposed it.

More than half of those who opposed Bersih 4 said they were afraid of violence and chaos during the rally, followed by cynicism over Bersih 2.0 achieving its goals (22 per cent).

Some also opposed Bersih 4 for fear that the Malay community will be marginalised if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is forced to step down, at 4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the top reasons given by those who favoured Bersih 4 included the desire to see improvements in areas like the electoral process as well as in institutions like Parliament at 39 per cent, and to express unhappiness with Putrajaya (25 per cent).

Other reasons given were to express dissatisfaction with Najib’s performance as prime minister (13 per cent), and to express anger over the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (11 per cent).

Merdeka Center questioned 1,010 registered voters in Peninsular Malaysia randomly selected over phone for the survey.

The respondents comprised 60 per cent Malay, 31 per cent ethnic Chinese and 9 per cent ethnic Indian.

Bersih 2.0’s latest rally, dubbed Bersih 4, will take place this weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching in Sarawak, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, and several other cities worldwide.

The five demands of the rally are clean elections; clean government; right to dissent; strengthening parliamentary democracy and saving the economy.

– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pollster-bersih-4-supporters-mostly-urban-internet-savvy-non-bumiputera#sthash.SbPUmRzU.dpuf

The Malaysian Insider | 27-Jul-2015 – Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s approval rating among voters in the state is at 74%, while 68% are satisfied with the state government’s performance, a poll has found, suggesting that the opposition will have an uphill task of wresting the Borneo state in the next election.

The sentiment cut across different demographics and ethnic groups, according to the poll by Merdeka Center, which surveyed 606 respondents through telephone aged 21 and above from April 10 to April 24.

“His approval rating is really very good. Only 13% are dissatisfied with Adenan. I think this will pose a challenge for the opposition as they prepare for the state election,” Merdeka Center executive director Ibrahim Suffian told a forum in Petaling Jaya today.

“The high rating is prompted by his promise to improve governance, address the economic and infrastructure needs of the state as well as being more robust and protecting the state’s interests.”
The survey showed that 67% Chinese approved of the chief minister, 74% non-Malay Bumiputera and 82% Malay Bumiputera.

Ibrahim added that the majority (67%) of the respondents had confidence that Adenan was committed to fighting corruption, and that the state government he led had the political will to do so.

Some 27% said that corruption had reduced under Adenan’s leadership, compared with previous years, while more than half (56%) of respondents felt the corruption level in Sarawak is serious.

“It is quite surprising how people change their perception over the state government when a different individual takes over. Just one personality can change the perception of the entire administration,” Ibrahim said.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) political scientist Dr Faisal Hazis said Adenan’s leadership had created a “feel good factor” in Sarawak, and compared it with Malaysia’s reception towards Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he first became prime minister.

“Adenan has been splashing a flurry of populist measures. He even planned to review the construction of mega dams, he met with environmental groups in his own house for a dialogue.

“He is engaging with critics, and it is a fresh approach,” said Faisal, who was also present at the forum, organised by anti-graft group Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

But Faisal cautioned that Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud had similarly started out with liberal policies when he was first installed as Sarawak chief minister.

The survey by Merdeka Center also found that respondents were most concerned about economic issues, such as the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) (15%), inflation and rising cost of living (15%) and public infrastructure (9%).

Despite this, one in two respondents said they felt the state was moving in the right direction, and saw development as a marker of the state government’s performance.

Faisal said that it was “quite impossible” for the opposition to take over the Sarawak government in the next election, given factors such as the split in the opposition, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) solidarity, the “Adenan factor” and electoral fraud.

In the 2011 state election, BN won 55 seats to keep their two-third majority intact while the opposition won 15 seats – DAP 12 and PKR 3, with an independent candidate winning one. The next state election will be held next year. – July 27, 2015

Malay Mail Online | PETALING JAYA, 27-Jul-2015 — Economic issues weigh heavier on the minds of Sarawakians than any other issue, including that of their native rights, independent pollster Merdeka Center revealed today.

Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian said that a recent survey of 606 respondents revealed that cost of living and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) introduced in April are issues that concern residents in the country’s largest state more than the issues of corruption or native rights.

“Most of the concerns are about the economy and this was just two or three weeks after GST was implemented and already it is felt by the people, economy is top concern.

“For many of our friends and colleagues in the civil society particularly about land rights, land rights do not figure very prominently. The issue of protecting native rights is fifth on the list,” he said at The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) forum here titled “C4 Good Governance Survey and Forum.”

Malay Mail Online | KUALA LUMPUR, 17-Apr-2015 ― Sixty-nine per cent of Malaysians said they were uninformed on controversies surrounding 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), according to study by independent pollster Merdeka Center and business radio channel BFM.

The result of the study released today also showed that nearly three-quarters of Malaysians did not even know the role played by the Putrajaya-owned strategic investment fund.

Despite that, nearly half of the respondents, or 49 per cent, expressed their lack of confidence in the government’s handling of the 1MDB issue.

Illustrating the opacity of the controversy, 52 per cent said they have no idea who should be held responsible for 1MDB’s issues. Just 18 per cent thought the prime minister should be accountable, while 16 per cent blamed the government.

“In our opinion, the lack of awareness of the 1MDB issue stems from the relatively complex nature of the issue as well as the lack of coverage in the mainstream media,” said a press release which accompanied the poll result.

“Malaysian political history is awash with past instances of alleged financial scandals over which a considerable amount of public funds were committed towards their rehabilitation,” it added.

“Perhaps the country’s small tax base (less than 20 per cent) means that the vast majority of citizens are not invested in the impact of the government’s pecuniary conduct hence did not follow the issue closely.”

Merdeka Center said it found that those who lacked awareness of the 1MDB matter were mostly low-income voters without internet access, who also made up the majority of voters.

Malay voters were the least informed about 1MDB’s role, with 81 per cent saying they were unaware, followed by those without internet access (87 per cent), households earning below RM3,000 monthly (87 per cent), and those who relied on the mainstream media for news (65 per cent).

One in three respondents said they were affected by the 1MDB scandal, mostly from the upper income households, ethnic Chinese voters, and those from the private sector and business owners.

The survey polled 1,011 registered voters between March 12 and 27 this year, comprising 60 per cent Malays, 30 per cent ethnic Chinese, and 10 per cent ethnic Indians.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last month ordered the Auditor-General and Public Accounts Committee to investigate 1MDB, amid growing demands for explanations over the firm’s allegedly opaque investment decisions and for amassing a reported RM42 billion debt pile.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar also had announced that a high-powered team comprising officials from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the police will investigate any wrongdoing discovered in 1MDB.