Two points in recent surveys on who is more popular in Malaysia’s politics can indicate where the elections are heading and who can win with the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research surveys weeks before the Parliament dissolution saying Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government’s approval was at 38 per cent in September and rival candidates for prime minister are also more popular than those from Umno.
38 Per Cent?
At 38 per cent, the government’s popularity is down from 39% in April 2018, just days before Umno lost power for the first time in six decades.
Current satisfaction with the government is much lower than the 50 per cent in September 2021, just weeks after Sabri first became prime minister, perhaps due to the new leader effect but it looks like this too has thinned and is now at 38 per cent.
