Youths are more optimistic, view govt and PM favourably - survey
Youths are more likely to be optimistic about the direction of the country and view the government and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin favourably compared to other age groups.
According to Merdeka Center's latest survey, the clear majority (53 percent) of youth respondents (21-30 years old) believe the country was going in the "right direction", while no other age group saw more than 50 percent of respondents agreeing.
Youths were also more likely, compared to other age groups, to...
Youths are more likely to be optimistic about the direction of the country and view the government and Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin favourably compared to other age groups.
According to Merdeka Center's latest survey, the clear majority (53 percent) of youth respondents (21-30 years old) believe the country was going in the "right direction", while no other age group saw more than 50 percent of respondents agreeing.
Youths were also more likely, compared to other age groups, to approve of the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, of helping those in need, of having a clear vision to restore the country, and managing the economy.
Muhyiddin and the government's approval rating was the lowest among those in the 51-60 years old bracket.
Apart from youths, those working either in government or government-linked companies, from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and of the lower-income group (under RM2,000 monthly income) were also more likely to view Muhyiddin and his government favourably.
The survey was carried out by Merdeka Center between March 31 and April 12, involving 2,111 respondents comprising 64 percent Malays, 28 percent Chinese, and eight percent Indians.
The survey was conducted through fixed-line and mobile telephones with respondents selected through random stratified sampling to reflect age, ethnicity, gender, and electoral constituencies. The poll was funded by Merdeka Center internally.
Overall, the clear majority of respondents across ethnicities, save for the Chinese, voiced approval of the government's performance in managing the Covid-19 pandemic at 70 percent, up from a low of 53 percent in January.
The vast majority of respondents (74 percent) also approved when asked if the government had helped those in need.
In terms of whether the government had a "clear vision" of "restoring the country", 56 percent agreed. However, the opinions of Malay and Chinese respondents were polar opposites.
While 74 percent of Malay respondents agreed, only 18 percent of Chinese respondents said the same.
Meanwhile, 51 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction over the government's handling of the economy down from 65 percent in May last year when the first stimulus package - which included loan moratoriums - was announced.
When this question was posed in January - a month after Budget 2021 was approved - only 45 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction.
