From January to April 2010, the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research carried out a survey among 3,141 adult Malaysians aged 19 and above with a view to understand their attitudes and values towards political participation. The objective of the study was to contribute towards a better understanding of the Malaysian electorate and to move beyond simplistic labels of race and ethnicity that is typically the primary filter through which politics are discussed. In order to flesh out the qualitative characteristics of each group, we also conducted focus group discussions that aimed to elicit responses that explained each groups’ views of the world and politics as it affects them.

The survey found that Malaysians do share political attitudes and values that transcend ethnic cleavages and that in some cases, a person’s socio-economic class can provide greater explanation for their attitudes and political orientation than cultural or racial underpinnings. For example, a Malay farmer in Pahang has a lot more in common with a pepper grower in Sarawak as compared to a Malay office worker in Shah Alam.