Najib, BN on track with firm Malay support
His approval rating may have dipped slightly but, with Malay support increasing, a few tweakings could see the premier get his two-thirds target.
Syed Jaymal Zahid, Free Malaysia Today
Malay support, key to a stronger mandate in the upcoming polls, remains firm with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak which could be enough to bolster his chances of winning bigger in the national elections.
Pollster Merdeka Centre released yesterday a survey indicating an increase of 5% in Malay support from 74% in February to 79% in May, with the majority of the support coming from the lower-income group.
It shows support from this lower income group, who forms the majority of the voters and are predominantly Malays, rising by 4%, a back-to-back increase as shown by the last survey conducted by the same polling house.
The data was gathered just after the Najib government gave out cash to the poor under the BR1M project – and amid a national scandal involving a federal minister’s family – which again lent credence to suggestions that rice bowl issues would precede others in the contest for votes.
The recent announcement of a minimum wage policy could also add to the prime minister’s growing popularity among the poor.
Right direction
This means that Najib has been shooting in the right directions – rolling out the correct policies that can be traced back to as early as Budget 2012 – to woo the electorate in Barisan Nasional’s bid to restore its two-thirds parliamentary majority.
But leaving out the middle class in the last budget may have backfired as the May poll showed a significant dip in support from the middle-income group. It could also suggest that Najib’s political reforms may not have the desired impact.
The survey showed a 2% decrease of households earning RM1,500 to RM3,000 from March, while households earning RM3,000 to RM5,000 revealed a staggering 18% drop.
Analysts say Malaysia’s middle class is becoming increasingly critical of the government in the wake of the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28, and this could influence support for Najib.
Police allegedly used excessive force to disperse a peaceful assembly that later turned violent and left scores, including media personnel and police officers, injured. Bersih has a largely middle-class following.
