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Poll: Sultan’s decision contrary to people’s will

By Zedeck Siew

February 12, 2009


(© Sanja Gjenero / sxc.hu)

PETALING JAYA, 12 Feb 2009: A new poll has found that the Perak Ruler’s decision not to call for snap elections to solve the political imbroglio in the state is unpopular with Perakians.

A total 62% of a 507-voter sample polled by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research felt that the role of the palace in this case “does not reflect the will of the people of Perak”.

The survey also found that 74% of respondents felt that the state assembly should be dissolved to pave the way for elections, according to a press statement released today by the Merdeka Centre.

The Perak crisis was precipitated when three Pakatan Rakyat state assemblypersons quit their respective parties to become independents, and threw their support behind the Barisan Nasional (BN).

Sultan Azlan Shah refused Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s request to dissolve the state legislative assembly, and instead agreed to BN forming the government. The move has been seen as an unpopular one, with people voicing out their anger at the Sultan’s decision on the internet.

The Merdeka Centre poll found that only 21% thought the royalty was “most rightful in deciding who should form government in Perak”. Over three-quarters of all respondents thought that who should form government was the reserve of “the people, through elections”.

The poll was carried out via telephone, from 6 to 8 Feb 2009. Respondents — all from Perak — comprised of 47% Malay Malaysians, 41% Chinese Malaysians, and 12% Indian Malaysians, in accordance with the 2008 electoral roll.

Thirty-three percent thought that fresh polls were the best way out of the Perak mess, as opposed to 28% saying that it was prudent to accept the new BN state government.

Most of those polled — 66% —  were against state governments formed through defections of state assemblypersons.

Thirty-five percent of those queried supported by-elections in Behrang, Changkat Jering, and Jelapang constituencies, where the Pakatan Rakyat representatives quit their respective parties to become “BN-friendly” independents, leading to the fall of the elected state government.

A majority of Chinese Malaysians and Indian Malaysians polled thought the Perak crisis would increase support for the Pakatan Rakyat, and reduce support for the BN. Opinions among Malay Malaysians however differed, with more thinking that it would decrease support for the opposition coalition, and increase support for the ruling government, than otherwise.

The poll also showed that 47% of all respondents thought the crisis decreased people’s faith in Malaysian democracy.

But it is interesting to note, however, that many Malay Malaysian (48%) and Indian Malaysian (53%) respondents thought that events would increase the people’s faith in Malaysian democracy. Chinese Malaysians were, however, less optimistic, with only 11% feeling the same way.

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Filed Under: News Tagged With: electoral roll, malay malaysians, Perak, percentages, poll, state government, Sultan Azlan Shah, telephone, Zedeck Siew

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sharon Chin says

    February 12, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    What is the total number of voters which the sample was taken against?

  2. felix says

    February 12, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    The Sultan and BN thought that as time goes by everything will be back to normal again as it usually does. But this time it is not the same, the Pakatan Rakyat MB did not give up and the people now are more aware of their rights.

    The rakyat’s discontent will not subside with the coming by-election and the ceramahs of the Pakatan’s following suit. Anyway the Sultan is at fault for making a wrong decision not to call for snap elections. Now that it’s done the least the Sultan can do is to make a statement to support his rationale. Is it to much to ask from the sultan?

    By turning a deaf ear to the public’s cries, it may seem that the sultan is arrogant and does not care for his subjects. The sultan will lose all respect if he still remains stubborn knowing that the only fair solution is a state-wide election. Don’t blame the rakyat for being angry.

    By the way, don’t treat the Umno’s support seriously. They are hypocrites who can turn on you.

  3. ron says

    February 12, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    sharon,

    Malaysiakini reports that the Merdeka Centre poll involved only 507 respondents.

    http://malaysiakini.com/news/98178

    Malaysiakini also conducted another survey with 34617 respondents where 88% disagreed with the sultan’s decision to transfer power in perak.

  4. Shashi says

    February 12, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    Sharon,
    The sample involved 507 people, as mentioned in the second paragraph of the story.

  5. ravi says

    February 13, 2009 at 2:35 am

    There is still the other 44%. I suppose it is high time we return back to reality and stop letting more foreign dollars flit elsewhere. Unless people enjoy queening over no-man’s land, that is.

  6. mike says

    February 15, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Fresh polls all the way.

  7. Zedeck says

    February 16, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Hello Sharon:

    The number of voters registered in the state of Perak should be found on the Election Commission website. This is their page for general election results:

    http://semak.spr.gov.my/spr/laporan/5_KedudukanAkhir.php

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