So you think you know the voters

About 61 percent of Malays considered themselves Muslims first, with only 28 percent identifying themselves first as Malaysians. When asked whether they rely upon their religion when making major life decisions, 92 percent of Malays and 85 percent of Indians answered affirmatively, while only 37 percent of Chinese agreed.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
In October 2006, the United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur sent the report below to Washington. This was, of course, six years ago and a year before the first Bersih rally of November 2007 and about 17 months before the 12th General Election in March 2008.
We would like to believe that this report is already outdated and that Malaysians have generally changed since then. But have they?
This opinion poll, funded by The Asia Foundation (http://asiafoundation.org/), surveyed more than 1,500 young Malaysian adults aged 18-32. The results showed sharp differences of views on religion and national identity and the relation between state and religion among the country's three largest ethnic groups - the Malays, Chinese and Indians.
Maybe you should read the report below and unless things have changed drastically over the last six years, which I feel they have not, then you are going to be in for a surprise this coming general election.
The salient points you should take special note of are the following:
1. About 61 percent of Malays considered themselves Muslims first, with only 28 percent identifying themselves first as Malaysians.
2. Only 31 percent of Malays agreed that ‘all cultures and religions should be given equal rights’, compared with 61 percent of Chinese and 66 percent of Indian respondents (which means 69 percent of Malays support ‘Ketuanan Melayu’).
3. The Chinese put ethnicity first (47 percent), followed by nationality (44 percent) and religion (5 percent).
4. Indians were the most nationalistic, with 75 percent identifying themselves first as Malaysians, followed by their ethnic group (14 percent) and religion (5 percent).
5. When asked whether they rely upon their religion when making major life decisions, 92 percent of Malays and 85 percent of Indians answered affirmatively, while only 37 percent of Chinese agreed.
6. Only 9 percent of Malays agreed ‘it is not wrong for unmarried couples to hold hands in public places’, compared with 96 percent of Chinese and 58 percent of Indians.
7. With regard to the connection between government and religion, only 3 percent of Malays agreed that ‘government and religion should be kept separate’, compared with 64 percent of Chinese and 47 percent of Indians.
8. About 30 percent of Malays hoped Malaysia would become ‘more Islamic’, while that outcome was supported by 0 percent of Chinese and 4 percent of Indians.
9. About 34 percent of Malays agreed that ‘government should increase the implementation of Islam by introducing Hudud laws for Muslims’, compared with only 2 percent of Chinese and 0 percent of Indian respondents.
10. A majority of Malays (53 percent) stated that they would not accept a woman as prime minister, compared with only 11 percent of Chinese and 6 percent of Indians.
11. Over 40 percent of respondents (of all races) would forgo elections in exchange for government-guaranteed peace, stability and economic growth (which means ‘democracy’ is not as important as peace, stability and economic growth).
Those who do not understand the method that opinion polls are done would probably argue that 1,500 respondents do not reflect the opinion of 15 million registered voters or 28 million Malaysian citizens. Those who do, however, would know that in a properly conducted poll, 1,500 respondents are all you need to get a plus-minus 5% accuracy result, and even if you increase the number of respondents to 15,000 or more, the accuracy would only improve by 1-2%.
Anyway, the bottom line is, we think we understand the psyche of the Malaysian voter, in particular the young or first-time voter. But do we?
Note that some within the age group of those polled back in 2006 were not yet registered voters or of the age where they could vote. This time around, however, many are able to vote and/or have registered to vote and will be voting in the coming general election, maybe three million or so.
Are you surprised to learn how Malaysians think and the sentiments they have and did you suspect this is what they think? Yes, that is the million dollar question and going by the comments posted in Malaysian Today, which I have been monitoring these last few years since 2008, I can see that many of you do not really know what is in the mind of most Malaysians and you are of the view that other Malaysians think exactly the way you do.
Can you now see how wrong you were?

4 comments:

  1. Malaysia maa same like that forever .... but Sabahan and Sarawakien will change it in PRU 13 ... KALAU BUKAN KITA ? SIAPA LAGI !, KALAU BUKAN SEKARANG ? BILA LAGI ! ... INI KALILAH ! ... (sia inda mo itu LAIN KALILAH sabab lama lagi mo tunggu OOooo 5 tahun lagi)

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  2. THE SURVEY DID NOT ASK SABAH & SARAWAK PEOPLE THE SAME QUESTIONS?

    "Those who do not understand the method that opinion polls are done would probably argue that 1,500 respondents do not reflect the opinion of 15 million registered voters or 28 million Malaysian citizens. Those who do, however, would know that in a properly conducted poll, 1,500 respondents are all you need to get a plus-minus 5% accuracy result, and even if you increase the number of respondents to 15,000 or more, the accuracy would only improve by 1-2%."

    Fair comment. May be the survey should be 30/30/30- Malay Indian Chinese & Sabah & Sarawak people?

    Judging from the results one could also venture a guess that out of the 1500 interviewees 4% were Indians Muslims.

    One question not ask is about intermarriage & related issues etc...

    The Chinese are the most "cosmopolitan" cum "parochial" and least affected by religious issues. Not long ago they also disapproved of "holding hands in public" unless you were married! Plus many taboos like not marrying a divorcee and many more (some still persist).

    Malay thinking is different compared to Indonesian thinking (if we dare to assume broadly they are of similar cultural origins).

    The Indonesians did have one female President. Phillipines had 2 female presidents, one each in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China (Soong Ching Ling),Australia (GG & PM), NZ (PM) Canada, UK (Queen. Maggie Thatcher), Holland (Queen) Germany & many others... no big deal!

    If they has interviewed Sabahans and Sarawakians there would have been a marked difference of opinions in these 2 Malayan colonies.

    One question to be asked is "Do you feel you enjoy independence as a country in Malaysia"

    Readers may want to answer this question with 31 August (Malayan Independence Day/ Sabah 16 days of independence) & 16 September (Colonisation Day) coming up.

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  3. It seems Malaysia and Singapore Malays wants to deny their ethnic consists of many different religions. Just ask a simple question with, "Why the majority of Thai, Filipino, Timor, and Bali are calling themselves Malayo-Polynesian and they are not Muslim?" They will turn away in disbelief that it is true.

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  4. Since the Philippines recognises Sabah has had independence from British on Sept 16, 1963... Why they still wants to claim back Sabah as a part of Philippines up to these day?
    ...and why The Malaya still insists to fool their young people that the name "Malaysia" had established in 1957, not in 1963 ??
    Great liars.

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