COMMENT | Following the outcome of the Negeri Sembilan state election, the general political narrative has been claims of Malay voters' consolidation, return of identity politics, and how non-Malays are now somehow exposed.

Let's look at the facts instead.

Between April and July this year, Institute for Strategic Analysis & Policy Research (Insap) conducted four waves of face-to-face fieldwork across Johor and Negeri Sembilan, undertaken by independent enumerators.

Over 10,000 Malaysians were interviewed in person in the months and weeks before both elections. The composition of respondents reflected the demography of the electoral rolls for each state.

Asked which national issues most influence their...