MALAYSIANS are anxious about the economy but how this anxiety plays out in elections differs according to race, reports the Straits Times today.

Despite inflation, a souring economy and financial scandals, the Malays remain loyal to Barisan Nasional and Umno – seeing the government as a “buffer against financial hardship”, the Singapore daily said.

The Chinese, on the other hand, blame BN as part of the economic problem.

“While issues show negative perception towards the government because of deep concern over the economy, there isn’t a strong alternative to the ruling party when it comes to upholding Malay interests,” independent pollster, Ibrahim Suffian of Merdeka Center, was quoted as saying.

“To put it in a different way, even though Malays are unhappy with the economy, the opposition isn’t able to convince them they can do a better job,” he added.

Economic concerns were foremost on the minds of 74% of voters, far ahead of ethnic and political discord, at 3% and 2% respectively, a Merdeka Center poll in March shows.

Inflation was the most important issue for six out of 10 Malaysians, and for more than three-quarters of Muslims, who make up two-thirds of the electorate.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, however, insists that Malaysia’s cost of living remains the lowest in Southeast Asia. He based his assertion on the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) rankings in April.

In March, the inflation rate hit a nine-year high at 5.1%.

Many Malays are also “indebted” to the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), said the daily, while the Chinese are more worried about corruption (47%) than inflation.

Many from the minority ethnic groups, such as the Chinese and Indians, also see Malaysia’s pro-Bumiputera policies in housing, education and government procurement as a key factor holding the economy back, saying that the system leads to inefficiency and abuse.

Less than 25% of the Chinese, who make up 30% of the electorate, voted BN at the 13^th general election.

At GE13, more than 60% of the Malays majority backed BN. – June 20, 2017.