Opinion/Election 2008: When it pays to know electorate's thinking
01-Mar-2008, New Straits Times
Public opinion surveys have shaped party campaigns for the March 8 general election, right down to the choice of candidates. Politicians tell SANTHA OORJITHAM why they are depending on pollsters more than ever before. More...

Abdullah's Power in Malaysia May Be Reduced by Anti-Bias Votes
29-Feb-2008, Bloomberg.com
Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) -- After Vella Murugan's third application for a government-subsidized mortgage was turned down in September, he decided he would back the opposition in Malaysia's March 8 election. More...

Ethnic Indian party bids to shore up credibility
27-Feb-2008, The Hindu.com
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's key ethnic Indian party took out advertisements in major newspapers Wednesday in a bid to shore up its credibility ahead of upcoming general elections. More...

ELECTION 2008/Opinion: Fence-sitters may decide in close vote
21-Feb-2008, News Straits Times
A Merdeka Center survey shows split voting is likely to happen again in Kelantan on March 8. Politicians on both sides tell SANTHA OORJITHAM how they plan to woo the fence-sitters. A THIRD of Kelantanese are for the Barisan Nasional (BN), another third for Pas and the rest are sitting on the fence. More...

ELECTION 2008: Outstation voters may swing the vote
21-Feb-2008, News Straits Times
A split down the middle among Kelantan voters may make out-of-state voters the tie-breakers in the general election, write LEE SIEW LIAN and MAZLINDA MAHMOOD. THIS is Farrah Khairul Azhar’s first general election and she has not made up her mind on who will get her vote. More...

ELECTION 2008: Are Penang folk looking for new direction?
20-Feb-2008, News Straits Times
Penang has become a hot spot, with the opposition hoping to exploit what they see as growing discontent, especially in Chinese-majority areas. But will this dissatisfaction translate into votes? LEE SIEW LIAN and MELISSA DARLYNE CHOW write. REVEREND Koe Choon Huan is happy with the performance of his member of parliament and state assemblyman. But, when he casts his vote in March, he will consider more than just how they have taken care of their constituencies. More...

Malaysia PM Calls Elections
14-Feb-2008, Arab News - AFP
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 February 2008 — Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi dissolved Parliament yesterday to pave the way for snap polls. Announcing that the king had consented to dissolve Parliament, the premier indicated he did not expect a repeat of the 2004 landslide when the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition seized 90 percent of parliamentary seats. More...

Hail, hail to Malaysia's Pak Lah
14-Feb-2008, Asia Times Online
KUALA LUMPUR - He gazes down from highway overpasses, building facades, light posts and banners stretched between trees - neck erect, chin dipped a trifle, a glint of humble warmth in his resolute gaze. More...

Malaysian polls: anything possible, except new govt
14-Feb-2008, Eleconomista.es
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's March 8 election is likely to shape the course of economic and social policy over the next five years, even if it doesn't deliver a new government. The ruling coalition has governed in various forms since independence in 1957, telling voters it is the only group that represents all major races and can keep the peace between them. More...

NewsFocus: Inflation, crime top issues for voters
14-Feb-2008, The New Straits Times
INFLATION, crime and the influx of illegal immigrants are the top issues for Selangor voters ahead of the coming general election, an NST survey has found.
The survey, conducted by the Merdeka Center, polled 798 respondents in the state between Nov 18 and 24. It was one in a series of polls commissioned by the New Straits Times Press Berhad to track voter sentiments. More...

Asian food crisis has political and civil implications
14-Feb-2008, International Herald Tribune
BANGKOK: Asia's food crisis is spreading beyond the specter of empty stomachs. Politicians are facing the wrath of angry voters, government budgets are being stretched to pay for increased food subsidies and the potential for civil unrest looms, especially if the cost of essential items like cooking oil and rice continues to climb. More...

Malaysia to go to the polls on March 8
13-Feb-2008, AFP
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysians will vote in general elections on March 8, authorities said Thursday as the nation braced for a campaign dominated by ethnic tensions and anger over rising prices. "The EC has fixed the nomination date for February 24 and polling will be on March 8," Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said, a day after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dissolved parliament. More...

Malaysian PM calls early elections
13-Feb-2008, Al-Jazeera.net
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Malaysian prime minister, has announced the dissolution of the national parliament, signalling early polls amid complaints over inflation, crime and ethnic tensions. Abdullah, who won an overwhelming majority in parliamentary in the 2004 general election, said he hoped that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition would be able to retain majority support. More...

Prime minister of Malaysia dissolves Parliament
13-Feb-2008, International Herald Tribute
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia dissolved Parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for what is likely to be a rancorous election campaign amid ethnic tensions, scandals in the country's judiciary and concerns over corruption and rising food prices. The election commission is due to announce later this week the date for elections, which must be held within 60 days. More...

Indian Discontent Fuels Malaysia’s Rising Tensions
10-Feb-2008, The New York Times
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysian Indian Casket, a shop on the outskirts of this modern and cosmopolitan city, sells coffins in all sizes: standard coffins clutter the entrance, child-size boxes are stacked high on the shelves and extra-large models, those for the tallest of the deceased, are stored in the back. More...

SpotLight: Poll: Malaysians want one BN multiracial party
08-Feb-2008, New Straits Times
MALAYSIANS want to see a single multiracial party emerge from the Barisan Nasional, reflecting a maturing political consciousness and desire for reform. A substantial number of Malays no longer believe voting across ethnic lines is a betrayal of their race, according to the Merdeka Center's latest survey. More...

Malaysians want end to racial politics: survey
08-Feb-2008, Radio Australia
A survey of Malaysians shows they have outgrown race-based politics and overwhelmingly want the ruling Barisan National coalition to merge into a multi-racial party. The Merdeka Centre research firm says Muslim Malays, who dominate the population, as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians no longer believe they are betraying their race by voting across ethnic lines. More...

'They've outgrown race-based politics'
08-Feb-2008, Independent Online
Kuala Lumpur - Malaysians have outgrown race-based politics and overwhelmingly want the ruling Barisan National coalition to merge into a multiracial party, according to a survey reported Tuesday. The New Straits Times cited the Merdeka Centre research firm as saying that majority Muslim Malays as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians no longer believe they are betraying their race by voting across ethnic lines. More...

Malaysian PM defends record as he seeks new mandate ahead of polls
03-Feb-2008, International Herald Tribune
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi defended his record on battling corruption, crime and inflation as he seeks a new five-year mandate in general elections likely to be held next month. Abdullah, whose popularity has dwindled since taking office in 2003, acknowledged in an interview with The Star newspaper that unhappiness among ethnic minority Indians would hurt support for his ruling coalition. The interview, conducted last week, was published Sunday. More...

Indian's approval of Pak Lah plummets
26-Jan-2008, Malaysiakini
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s standing among the Indian community has taken a severe beating according to a survey released recently. Based on the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research survey, Indians approval for Abdullah had dropped from 79% in October to only 38% in December. This has dragged Abdullah’s overall approval rating to an all time low of 61% since a high of 91% in November 2004. Merdeka Centre director Ibrahim Suffian said the sudden drop in approval ratings was due likely to the Hindraf issue since an earlier survey before November did not capture a negative swing among the Indians. More...

Malaysian PM's popularity hits low ahead of poll
25-Jan-2008, Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Reuters) - The Malaysian prime minister's approval rating has hit a personal low as the country gears up for early elections, with voters unhappy over rising prices, racial tensions and crime, a pollster said on Friday. The poll by market research firm Merdeka Center gave Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi an approval rating of 61 percent in December, the lowest since he took office in late 2004 and down by 10 percentage points from November. More...

NEWS RELEASE: 25 Jan 2008 - The Merdeka Center December 2007 Voter Perceptions Survey: Concerns over inflation, economy and PM’s approval rating. More...

To fall is human, to resign responsible
06-Jan-2006, The Star
Temptations abound for the rich and powerful but with their lives constantly in the spotlight, the consequences of giving in to them are great – if caught. More...

Malaysian protest crackdown may delay poll plan
21-Dec-2007, Reuters
Malaysia's recent dramatic crackdown on public protest could force the prime minister to delay plans for an early election next year, after the events embittered the opposition and soured the public mood. In November, tens of thousands of people turned out for two of Malaysia's largest protests in a decade, dramatically highlighting their unhappiness over Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's glacial implementation of promised reforms.
More...

‘No’ to street protests
17-Dec-2007, The Star
PETALING JAYA: A large majority of Malaysians are against street protests and have backed the government’s decision to use the laws to stop anyone from threatening racial peace and harmony. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the Merdeka Centre from Dec 7 to 12. More...

Malaysians count on PM, military
13-Dec-2007, New Srait Times
Confidence in the military and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi topped the list in a national survey related to trust in political institutions. Assistant Prof Dr Bridget Welsh says most Malaysians would not turn to violence. More...

Poll findings will be used to address young voters’ needs
4-Dec-2007, Borneo Post
KOTA KINABALU: The poll findings made by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research will allow policymakers, politicians and grassroots advocacy groups to address the needs of young voters, and guide civic education efforts ahead of the coming election. More...

Spotlight: Youth apathetic and lazy when it comes to voting
30-Nov-2007, New Straits Times
ONE-THIRD of Malaysians aged 20 to 35 have not registered as voters according to a recent opinion poll. And around half of the young voters feel there is little they can do to hold the government accountable between elections. More...

Spotlight: Public safety among the main concerns
30-Nov-2007, New Strait Times
CRIME and public safety are the top issues of concern among the youth, according to the National Youth Survey 2007. Fifteen per cent said they were concerned over recent increases in crime. This is seven per cent higher than last year, when the main cause for concern was inflation. Price hikes, which had 27 per cent of the 1,508 respondents worried last year, dropped to eight per cent this year. More...

Poll: Non-bumi youth disaffected, disconnected
29-Nov-2007, Malaysiakini
The majority of Chinese and Indian youth in Malaysia feel they are subjected to discrimination by the government, according to poll findings released today. This comes just three days after some 30,000 Indians - the largest protest involving the community - took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur to vent their frustrations over being marginalised. The National Youth Survey 2007, conducted by independent opinion research firm Merdeka Centre, found that more than half of the Chinese (59 percent) and Indian (58 percent) respondents perceive that the government does not treat them equally. More...

NewsFocus/Attitude towards Government and Opposition: Confidence in prime minister and govt remains strong
25-Nov-2007, New Straits Times
DESPITE the spate of issues, public confidence in the prime minister's control over the government remains stable and positive. This finding in the Merdeka Center survey is perhaps a rough indicator of the Barisan Nasional's standing with the electorate as well as its likely performance in the coming general election. More...

NewsFocus/Public safety: Concern over high-profile crimes
25-Nov-2007, New Straits Times
IN tracking voter sentiment on public safety -- another major concern apart from the economy -- the findings of the Merdeka Center survey noted a marked increase in the level of concern since April. More...

NewsFocus/The economy: Price increases rank high among voters
25-Nov-2007, New Straits Times
THE impact of world oil prices, as well as an increasingly competitive economy, on the livelihood and income of the average Malaysian is by far the strongest voter concern detected in the Merdeka Center survey findings. More...

NewsFocus: Positive voter support for PM
25-Nov-2007, New Straits Times
A Merdeka Center survey on voter sentiment in Peninsular Malaysia puts the finger on the pulse of the electorate. Despite some major concerns, public confidence in the PM and the government remains stable and positive. More...

Values of Malaysian Youth
30-Jan-2005, News Straits Times.
Are Malaysian youths undiscerning, too trusting and clueless about the world around them? Findings from a nationwide survey carried out late last year seem to suggest so. Seven of 10 young people said they found politics and Government "too complicated to understand"; a huge number had not travelled on their own before turning 18; yet one-fifth claimed they had "done the utmost" in their youth. Perhaps the most significant finding was that two out of three placed considerable trust in the Government, with Malays registering the highest (73 per cent). More...

Spiritual healers still in demand
23-Jan-2005, News Straits Times.
In a nationwide survey carried out late last year, 90 per cent of respondents said they would readily turn to doctors and specialists - but one in eight also said they trusted spiritual healer. More...

Most Malaysians are happy and calm
23-Jan-2004, New Straits Times.
Malaysians claim they are healthy, reasonably happy and calm. But far too many are working longer hours, not watching what they eat and turning into couchpotatoes. For more than half of the population, especially working adults, there is no time for exercise. Work takes up a huge portion of their lives and, for a third of Malaysians, leisure is increasingly defined as time in front of the television set. More...

One in six Malaysians stressed out by work
18-Oct-2004, New Straits Times.
Feeling tired, listless and dreading work? You are not alone. One in six working Malaysians in a nationwide poll says he is stressed out by work and, for almost as many, this is compounded by money problems. The poll, on how Malaysians balance work and life issues, also reveals that respondents in government service are least stressed and those at the other end of the scale are workers in sales and retail. More...

42% of Malaysians worry about the rising cost of living
17-Oct-2004, New Straits Times.
The cost of living has overtaken crime, domestic politics, education and national security as the issue of greatest concern to most Malaysians today. This is in sharp contrast to less than three months ago, when crime topped the list, with the economy trailing far behind. More...

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