PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said the people’s support for the unity government under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has risen since September.
He said a survey by PKR showed Anwar’s approval rating increased after Putrajaya launched several policy papers in September.
These included the Madani Economy and the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
The economy minister was responding to pollster Merdeka Center’s survey which found that Anwar’s approval rating has slipped to 50% amid rising concern over the country’s economy.
He said the people’s support for the government was low from May to August because of the devaluation of the ringgit and speculations of the opposition toppling the administration.
“The unity government and Anwar’s leadership are in the most stable state because the internal politics are stable. The people’s support – even if it is status quo – is higher by 1-2% but it bucks the trend.
“We were concerned in May, June and July moving towards the state elections, it (people’s support) was going down because of the fall in Malaysian currency as played up by the opposition, but it has steadied after a series of policies and it has stayed like that.
“Going forward, the unity government is rock solid and the public support and approval rating are going up,” he told a media conference after the simultaneous opening of the Angkatan Muda Keadilan and Wanita PKR congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.
The Pandan lawmaker said the Merdeka Center survey was not based on findings that are important to the people or the government.
“I have every reason to be optimistic when it comes to political stability going forward because we have the upper hand. The challenge now is to translate from good headline numbers because the headline economic numbers have improved.
“A growth for the first time in four, five, six years, I think. We have seen quarter-to-quarter growth that has never happened before. Inflation has fallen to its lowest – 1.8% – and 2024 is expected to be better because of a better global economic outlook,” he added.
Rafizi said support for Anwar should be compared with approval ratings during the administration of previous prime ministers.
“The three prime ministers after Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, followed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin (Yassin) and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The pattern was the same, it started with high support, then suddenly, after six months and a year, support dropped, and this is not a strange thing.
“That’s why the report (of the survey) needs to be read and understood in the right context, because when a new government takes over, towards the mid-term, its popularity starts to fall,” he said. – Bernama, November 25, 2023.
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