THE Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute survey among 55% of Malay respondents in Johor where the majority want a return of English-medium schools was an accurate reflection of the state’s population, a spokesman from the Singapore-based centre said.

“The total population of Johor is about 3.2 million, of which about 1.7 million is ethnic Malay.  

“The sample size of ethnic Malays for this survey is 1,104 out of 2,011, or 55%, corresponding with the actual population figure,” said Iseas in an email response to criticism that the survey’s methodology and percentage of Malay respondents were inaccurate.

The survey released last week was criticised by the Movement to Abolish the Teaching of Science and Maths in English (GMP).

Former GMP adviser Dr Shaharir Mohamad Zain, said the study did not reflect the views of Johor folk as only 55% of Malay respondents were interviewed.

“Why only 55% of Malay respondents? It should be at least 60% Malays,” he said.

GMP is against any effort to replace Bahasa Malaysia as the medium of education in schools as it believes it must supersede other languages in the national education system.

Shaharir had also criticised the telephone survey, to which Teo told The Malaysian Insight that interviews by phone were accepted as a method for surveys with more than 2,000 respondents.

The study was conducted by Merdeka Center in May and June, comprising 2,011 respondents aged 18 years and over who live in Johor and interviewed by telephone.

Those interviewed included 1,104 (55%) Malay respondents, 758 (38%) Chinese and 149 (7%) Indian.

Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian defended the study and said it complied with academic standards. – November 23, 2017.