MORE than 17% of Malaysians polled by Emir Research said they will vote for an independent party in the next general election.

The think-tank also found that the propensity to choose a third force is higher among young voters.

Of those aged 31 and below, 19% said they will vote for an independent party, compared with 16% in the 31-40 and 41-50 age brackets. Among respondents aged 51 and above, 17% said they will vote independent.

Across ethnic lines, more Indians (25%) and Chinese (24%) said they will support an independent party, compared with Malays’ 14%.

This is the first time independents have ranked so highly among respondents in opinion polls carried out after last year’s elections.

“Could this be a harbinger of the emergence of a third-force movement, where independents who are fed up with both the government and Muafakat Nasional decide to coalesce into a single movement?” said Emir Research in its report, titled “Pulse From The Ground: Voice & Expectations of the Rakyat on Current Socio-economic Issues Part 2”, released today.

Muafakat Nasional refers to the pact between Barisan Nasional and PAS.

The survey, involving 1,992 voters, was conducted in 222 parliamentary constituencies from September 5 to October 10. Its margin of error is estimated at 3%.

It is the poll’s second release after revealing last month that only 24% of Malaysians felt that the Pakatan Harapan government was viable.

More than a third of those polled (41%) said they will vote PH if the 15th general election is held soon. But, Umno and PAS are not far off at 38%.

“Based on the estimated margin of error of 3%, the contest can only be described as neck and neck,” said the think-tank. – December 12, 2019.