Survey: Ethnic Chinese Unhappy With Malaysia's Economic Policies
Malaysia's ethnic Chinese minority is highly dissatisfied with the country's economic policies that favor the majority Malays, while crime and rising prices are a major concern for everyone, according to a new opinion poll.
While only 32 percent of Chinese were satisfied with the government's handling of the economy, an overwhelming 75 percent of Malays thought Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration was doing a good job, according to the poll provided to The Associated Press late Tuesday.
"The Malay members of the public, many of whom are government servants, tend to have a much more positive outlook, while the Chinese, who are working in the commercial sector, are more negative," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research that conducted the survey.
Ibrahim said Chinese were increasingly critical of the New Economic Policy, which gives Malays preference in jobs, education and business. In the survey, 54 percent of Chinese said they believed the policy benefits only the rich and politically connected.
Ibrahim said crime and price rises also emerged as major issues in the survey. An overwhelming 76 percent of respondents from all races were dissatisfied with consumer prices. Crime was listed as the most important issue affecting Malaysia today. "For members of the public, it's all about livelihood and feeling safe at home," Ibrahim said.
The Merdeka Center questioned 1,022 respondents in June to gauge public sentiment ahead of general elections, widely expected to be held either this year or in early 2008. The survey had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
The results provide good pre-election news for Abdullah, whose party, the United Malays National Organization, draws its strength from ethnic Malays who form 60 percent of the 26 million population. UMNO is the dominant party in the ruling National Front coalition, which also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian parties.
The National Front has been in power since independence from Britain in 1957. (International Herald Tribune)
While only 32 percent of Chinese were satisfied with the government's handling of the economy, an overwhelming 75 percent of Malays thought Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration was doing a good job, according to the poll provided to The Associated Press late Tuesday.
"The Malay members of the public, many of whom are government servants, tend to have a much more positive outlook, while the Chinese, who are working in the commercial sector, are more negative," said Ibrahim Suffian, director of the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research that conducted the survey.
Ibrahim said Chinese were increasingly critical of the New Economic Policy, which gives Malays preference in jobs, education and business. In the survey, 54 percent of Chinese said they believed the policy benefits only the rich and politically connected.
Ibrahim said crime and price rises also emerged as major issues in the survey. An overwhelming 76 percent of respondents from all races were dissatisfied with consumer prices. Crime was listed as the most important issue affecting Malaysia today. "For members of the public, it's all about livelihood and feeling safe at home," Ibrahim said.
The Merdeka Center questioned 1,022 respondents in June to gauge public sentiment ahead of general elections, widely expected to be held either this year or in early 2008. The survey had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.
The results provide good pre-election news for Abdullah, whose party, the United Malays National Organization, draws its strength from ethnic Malays who form 60 percent of the 26 million population. UMNO is the dominant party in the ruling National Front coalition, which also includes ethnic Chinese and Indian parties.
The National Front has been in power since independence from Britain in 1957. (International Herald Tribune)
Labels: Discrimination., Malaysian Politics., Never Ending Policy (NEP)
posted by The Malaysian. at 8/08/2007 10:02:00 PM
3 Comments:
of course they will be happy! Not only they are entitled to lifelong freebies, they are also filling up every billet available in the public service as the chosen race. And the government had just showered the public service with huge increment and bonus. Bloody leeches!
I left because I could see no chance of Govt leaders reforming. I live in M$3 million house, drive a M$170,000 car (all paid up) and my kids go to the best schools. I earn M$30,000 pm. I can criticise the Govt here and my MP says thank you when I write to him. No ISA, No BN. Of course there are other idiots here but they have no power. I sometimes miss having to bribe a mata mata or give 30% to others but the Malaysian food here is better than in PJ. Migrate now, I say!Then these 30% types can have the whole 100%, like Mahathir and his anak anak in UMNO wanted.
what the malays receive will in the end falls in the chinese businessmsn pockets so think deeply the malays owns a little but the rest goes to the chinese. so what happen to the economy they don't worry cause they can increaes food prices and keep some in their stores so that they can make big profit later on. They burn small chicks just because the prices of chicken goes down.The money that goes to the malay civil servant ends in the chinese business pockets, who own big houses, who give corruptions to police or any govrnment servents just to avoid the law and to get better deal!
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