ALMOST half of those polled on the performance of the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have expressed dissatisfaction with it.

The survey by Merdeka Centre – held from October 4 to 24 involving 1,220 voters of all ethnicities nationwide – showed that 41% of them were disappointed with the federal government’s performance, while 7% said they were angry with it.

Based on ethnicity, Malays were the highest (60%) respondents to express dissatisfaction with Anwar’s government, followed by Indians at 52%.

The survey found most respondents in urban and rural areas in the peninsula also expressing discontent with the federal government.

Going by income bracket, the majority of those with salaries below RM4,000 aired their grouses about the current government. 

Of the remaining voters, 41% said they were happy with Anwar’s government while 11% either refused to respond or stated that they did not know.

“In our view, the movements in voter sentiments are largely driven by their concerns over the economy and how it affects their livelihoods,” Merdeka Centre said in a statement based on the findings.  

On November 19 last year, Malaysia went to the polls, which saw none of the big three coalitions – Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), and Perikatan Nasional – gain any ground to form the government. 

This led to the nation’s first ever hung parliament. After several meetings with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Riayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, PH decided to form a unity government with BN and Sabah and Sarawak parties.

This gave Anwar the support of 148 lawmakers, with a two-thirds’ majority in Dewan Rakyat for the first time in 15 years. 

He now enjoys a much stronger majority in parliament with 151 MPs backing him, including four from Bersatu. – November 22, 2023.