File photo of PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DPM Datuk Seri Wan Azizah, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and other cabinet ministers. - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Voters are satisfied with Pakatan Harapan ministers in general but there are concerns about the economy and racial/religious rights, according to a survey carried out by the Merdeka Centre earlier in August.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail recorded 75% in overall voter satisfaction while Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a 71% score.
Other Pakatan Harapan ministers were also ranked above 50%, with Attorney-General Tommy Thomas the only government figure recording 49% voter satisfaction.
Despite overall positive ratings, the survey results showed that Malaysia's economy remains the top concern amongst 64% of voters, in a press release issued by the poll centre on Wednesday (Aug 15).
Concerns on race and religious rights had also increased from 12% when the Merdeka Center conducted a similar pre-election poll in April to 21% in the recent August 2018 survey.
Some areas of concern also showed. For example, only 48% of voters were satisfied with the government on its methods of growing the economy.
Meanwhile, 55% of voters surveyed were dissatisfied with the measures to address cost of living pressures.
While the majority of voters could accept that some promises could not be fulfilled in the first 100 days of government, the Merdeka Centre noted that the new Pakatan Harapan government would face other challenges.
The Centre said these challenges would include heightened expectations, managing coalition politics and also facing a political opposition using race and religion to galvanise itself.
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