Public perceptions of politics: Malaysian asian barometer project findings

Abstract

Drawing from a national statistically rigorous sample, these three papers discuss public perceptions of political attitudes in Malaysia. As part of the Asia Barometer Survey (ABS), the papers in the panel present the findings of a poll conducted from June-August 2007 and show how Malaysians assess political institutions, political participation and governance. The first paper presented by Merdeka Centre Director, Ibrahim Suffian, discusses methodological issues in conducting a national polls and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of polling. Drawing from his wealth of experience in polling and an evaluation of the ABS poll, this analysis points to the growing importance of polling in Malaysian politics. Bridget Welsh, the ABS project director, presents the national findings of the poll, with a particular focus on the perceptions of the quality of democracy in Malaysia. The findings are compared regionally, where it is shown that Malaysians have a more favorable perception of institutions, but serious reservations about how these institutions operate. Andrew Aeria delves into the variation within Malaysia, with special attention to how East Malaysians differ from their counterparts in West Malaysia. Highlighting regional, gender, class and ethnic variation, this third paper shows how Malaysians are not monolith in their political attitudes.