ONLY one in two Malaysians believe that the debts incurred by state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is a problem, a study by Parti Bersatu Pribumi Malaysia revealed. 

Some 50.8% of the 2,881 respondents surveyed believed that the 1MDB debt will be paid for by taxpayers while 38.1% said they were unsure if they would have to bear the burden.

Bersatu Policy and Strategy bureau chief Dr Rais Hussin said only half the people think the 1MDB debt will be borne by them. 

“A large chunk of respondents – 38.1% – said they don’t know. The reason they don’t know is because the issue of 1MDB was not communicated to them when we did the survey last year.”

“While, on the government’s explanation on 1MDB, only 15.4% believed it, 43% were not sure and 41% don’t believe their explanation.”

The survey conducted between July and August 2016 also found that only 29% of Malaysians believed the social media stories about the 1MDB saga and the RM2.6 billion channelled into the prime minister’s personal bank account were true. 

Nearly 54% of the respondents were unsure while the remainder did not believe them at all. Also, 22.7% believed that the 1MDB issue was manipulated by foreign media while 50.9% were unsure. 

But 39.5% of those polled believed that Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism of Prime Minister Najib Razak on the 1MDB issue to be true.

Rais said the survey also showed that only 15% believed that RM2.6 billion was deposited in the account of the prime minister.

“Those who didn’t believe were 33.8% and those who vehemently don’t believe it was 32%. This was the survey on social political issues that was conducted.”

The “What Malaysians Want” survey was based on 23 focus groups identifying issues relevant to Malaysians. Bersatu’s Bureau of Policy and Strategy formulated the 222-question survey after collating the discussion points from 162 participants from the focus groups. 

They then conducted face-to-face interviews with 2,881 Malaysians in more than 30 constituencies. The respondents consist of 52.2% men and 47.8% women. 

The breakdown of the respondents is: 23.1% were from cities, towns (49.8%), interiors (19.8%) and settlements like Felda (7.2%). The racial profile was 67.6% Malay, Chinese (23%), Indians (5.6%) and Sabah and Sarawak natives (3.7%). 

Education wise, 25.4% of those surveyed had degrees, diplomas and certificates (35.2%), and SPM or lower qualifications (39.4%).

The study was conducted between July and August 2016 before Bersatu was formalised. – May 10, 2017.