Study finds that over 60% of voters were dissatisfied with the BN federal government

A recent survey conducted by independent pollster Merdeka Center found that only 31% of voters were satisfied with the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government, while 60% expressed dissatisfaction.

This represents a 7% reduction from the last survey done in September 2022.

According to the report, the study collected 1,209 responses from votes across all states in Peninsular Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak. The respondents were selected through random stratified sampling method along the lines of ethnicity, gender, age and states.

The results showed that ahead of the 15th General Election (GE15), ethnic Chinese respondents had the biggest proportion of dissatisfaction at 83% followed by the Indian community at 79%.

Meanwhile, the only demographic with a higher proportion of satisfied respondents were those working in the civil service or government-linked companies, and Muslim Bumiputeras.

Muhyiddin had the highest approval rate as PM

On the other hand, the approval rate for caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also saw a reduction from 42% to 40%, whit his highest approval rating at 50% when he first came into power.

The study also found that of the five political leaders surveyed, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had the highest approval rating at 46%, followed by UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan at 32%.

The ranking ends with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with an approval rate of 34% and UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the last with just 12%.

At the same time, Zahid had got the highest disapproval rate at 72%, while Mohamad Hassan had the lowest at 29%.

Meanwhile, the study also found that the present three significant coalitions had large bases of support, making it difficult to predict the outcome of the election.

Nonetheless, the Merdeka Center predicts that there is no single coalition that will attain a large enough plurality to form a government with just one other party or coalition. Thus, the cooperation between parties or coalitions are required to form a government with a simple majority.