GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is 2.7% ahead of Warisan Plus in the popularity stakes, said a Sabah think-tank.

According to Society for Empowerment and Economic Development (SEEDS) chairman Dr Arnold Puyok, 43.4% of respondents in a poll picked GRS compared to 40.7% for Warisan Plus.

The remaining 15.9% picked other parties, said SEEDS.

The findings were of a second SEEDS survey of voter sentiments in Sabah. The survey polled 1,138 stratified respondents in Sabah on Sept 21-24. The margin of error is 3%.

The survey also showed a strong inclination for the Perikatan Nasional federal government compared against the Warisan state government.

On the economy, 58.9% of the respondents picked PN compared to 56.6% for Warisan. PN was also preferred on security issues and Covid-19 pandemic management by 51.1% and 82.9% respondents, respectively.

Only 39.2% favoured Warisan for the handling of security issues while 45.3% favoured the state government.

Warisan, however, found favour among Sabahans in terms of ethnic relations (57.1%) and administration (58%). In the same categories, PN scored a poor 35.7% in the first and 53.8% in the second.

The first SEEDS survey on August 4-31 showed a strong inclination towards Warisan and its allies although the government was not popular.

The first survey also found Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the Perikatan Nasional-led government to be hugely popular. – September 25, 2020.