By Aidila Razak
Less than one-fifth of respondents in a Universiti Malaya survey feel opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat can take Putrajaya in the next general election.
None according to the study by the UM Centre of Democracy and Election (Umcedel), 18 percent believe this to be true, while a significantly higher portion feel BN will retain control.
Irrespective of their party inclination, 43 percent of the 2,559 people surveyed nationwide believe the BN will stay in power, while 39 percent are unsure.
The bulk of those confident of BN’s win are Malays and Indians, although the number of Chinese respondents who believe that BN will win outweigh those who think Pakatan will take over.
The respondents were split three-ways in terms of confidence in a fair and transparent election.
A total of 37 percent feel the election will polls will not be fair and transparent, while 32 percent are confident this can be achieved and the others, unsure.
About half happy with BN
The respondents’ belief that BN will win in the next general election is likely to have been formed by their satisfaction with BN’s rule over the past 50 years.
Slightly less than half are satisfied, while 37 percent feel that the coalition can do more.
Most are happy with Budget 2012, saying that it has “helped in reducing the burden of the rising cost of living”, while 43 percent said the 1Malaysia concept has increased support for the BN.
A significant portion of the respondents who said 1Malaysia was good for BN are Indians, followed by Malays, with only a third of the Chinese agreeing.
And, 44 percent of those who felt 1Malaysia has not helped BN came from the Chinese community.
More than half, or 51 percent, said a candidate’s party is the foremost criteria in deciding who to vote for, compared with 42 percent who said they will be influenced by the candidate.
The issue the respondents felt will most influence their vote is accountable and transparent governance, at 15 percent.
This is followed closely by corruption and Malay rights and Islam at 13 percent and peace, cost of living and job opportunities at 12 percent.
However, respondents in the 22 to 30 years age group placed more importance on the cost of living and job opportunities compared with their older counterparts.
