PKR may want jailed leader Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister, but its party-linked research house’s recent survey showed that Najib Razak was still more popular for the job.

The survey by the Invoke Centre for Policy Initiatives (I-CPI) found that 31% of the nearly 17,962 voters who responded wanted Najib as the prime minister after the next elections while only 8.1% wanted Anwar.

Among the 12,393 (69%) who did not pick Najib as prime minister, 50.2% wanted an opposition leader while 49.8% did not answer the question.

The survey also found that Najib’s popularity was highest among Malays (37%) followed by Indians (32%). Among those who picked him as the next prime minister only 20% were Chinese.

Among the 6,196 who wanted an opposition to be the next prime minister, Anwar polled the highest at 23.5% followed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang (17.6%) and Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad (16.5%).

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was next in line for the job at 12.6% followed by PKR vice president Rafizi Ramli (10.7%) and Bersatu’s Mukhriz Mahathir (8.4%).

According to Invoke, the survey was conducted from Feb 6 to May 23 and involved random computerised calls to 2.8 million voters nationwide.

They respondents were made up of 68% Malays, 15% Chinese, 9% Indian and 8% Sabah and Sarawak bumiputera.

Voters were asked to answer two questions – whether they agreed with what Najib was doing and to pick a prime minister after the next elections from a list of 10 leaders from Umno, PKR, Bersatu and PAS.

The 10 leaders were Najib, Dr Mahathir, Anwar, Muhyiddin, Mukhriz, Hadi, Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali, Rafizi, PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Among Malays who picked an opposition leader to lead the country next, Hadi polled the highest at (29%) followed by Dr Mahathir (18%) and Muhyiddin (15%). Anwar came in fourth at 14%.

For the Chinese, Anwar was their favourite at 35%, followed by Rafizi (19%). Dr Mahathir and Dr Wan Azizah tied for third at 12%.

Among the Indian voters, Anwar was the most popular at 68% followed by Muhyiddin (15%) and Rafizi (7%). – May 24, 2017.