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Bread-and-butter issues trump native rights in Sarawak, poll finds
27-Jul-2015, Malay Mail Online
By Mayuri Mei Lin

PETALING JAYA, July 27 — 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.”