Watching the Watchdog 2.0

Section 1: Coverage of Political Parties and Coalitions 1.1 Volume of Coverage of Parties & Coalitions Figure 1: Volume of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions

USNO 0.02 0.07 LDP 0.21 0.23 PRM 0.23 0.26 SUPP 0.28 0.70 SAPP 0.98 1.07 Warisan 1.16 1.40 Gagasan Sejahtera 1.44 1.60 PPBM 1.79 1.95 PBS 2.05 2.51 PDP 2.93 3.67 PKR 5.60 5.91 PAS 6.77 7.00 MCA 7.63 7.91 PBB 8.09 9.19 BN 11.60 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00

• BN received the most coverage (11.60%), followed by MIC (9.19%) and PBB (8.09%).

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Figure 2: Volume of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions: Government vs. vs. Independent/Other

GS 10.37

Independent 3.97

PH 24.32

BN 61.35

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00

• Once parties/coalitions’ coverage volumes are combined, BN received the highest level of coverage (61.35%), followed by PH (24.32%) and GS (10.37%).

1.2 Tone of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions Figure 3: Raw Tonal Coverage Volume of Political Parties & Coalitions Attacked 1% Positive 20%

Negative 11%

Neutral 68%

• The Neutral tone was used the most (68%), followed by Positive (20%) and Negative (11%).

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Figure 4.1: Attacked Political Party & Coalition Coverage

STAR 0.00 USNO 0.00 Warisan 0.00 LDP 0.00 AMANAH 0.00 UPKO 0.00 UMNO 0.00 SUPP 0.00 SAPP 0.00 PSM 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.00 PPBM 0.00 PDP 0.00 PBRS 0.00 PBB 0.00 PAS 0.00 MIC 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.00 BN 0.00 PKR 1.75 PCM 1.75 PBS 1.75 MCA 1.75 Gerakan 1.75 Other 5.26 PH 7.02 DAP 29.82 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00

• DAP received the highest amount of Attacked coverage (29.82%), followed by PH (7.02%). • Gerakan, MCA, PBS, PCM, and PKR shared similar amounts of Attacked coverage (1.75%).

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Figure 4.2: Negative Political Party & Coalition Coverage

USNO 0.00 UPKO 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.23 STAR 0.46 LDP 0.46 SUPP 0.46 Warisan 0.68 PSM 0.68 AMANAH 1.14 PPBM 1.37 Gagasan Sejahtera 1.82 SAPP 2.05 PCM 2.05 PBS 2.05 Other 2.28 IKATAN 2.51 Gerakan 2.51 UMNO 2.96 PH 3.19 PBRS 3.19 PDP 3.87 MCA 4.56 PAS 5.69 PBB 5.92 PKR 6.83 BN 10.25 DAP 10.71 MIC 13.90 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00

• MIC received the most Negative coverage (13.90%), followed by DAP (10.71%) and BN (10.25%).

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Figure 5.1: Positive Political Party & Coalition Coverage

USNO 0.00 UPKO 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.00 STAR 0.13 LDP 0.13 AMANAH 0.63 SUPP 0.63 PPBM 1.01 PSM 1.13 Other 1.38 UMNO 1.38 IKATAN 1.38 PBS 1.64 Warisan 1.89 SAPP 1.89 Gagasan Sejahtera 2.39 PKR 2.89 PDP 4.78 PCM 4.78 PAS 5.28 MCA 5.91 DAP 6.16 PBRS 6.29 PH 7.04 Gerakan 8.68 PBB 9.06 MIC 9.43 BN 10.19 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00

• BN received the highest amount of Positive coverage (10.19%), followed by MIC (9.43%) and PBB (9.06%).

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Figure 5.2: Neutral Political Party & Coalition Coverage

USNO 0.03 PRS 0.07 STAR 0.17 SUPP 0.17 LDP 0.20 PRM 0.34 UPKO 0.37 SAPP 0.51 PSM 0.54 Warisan 1.09 Gagasan Sejahtera 1.15 AMANAH 1.19 IKATAN 1.29 Other 1.53 PCM 1.97 UMNO 2.04 PPBM 2.14 PDP 2.21 PBS 2.21 PBRS 2.82 PH 6.01 DAP 6.25 PKR 6.28 PAS 7.57 PBB 8.39 Gerakan 8.56 MIC 8.59 MCA 8.63 BN 12.53 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00

• BN received the most Neutral coverage (12.53%) followed by MCA (8.63%) and MIC (8.59%).

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Figure 6: Tone of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions: Government vs. Opposition vs. Independent/Other

10.74 9.56 GS 11.20 0.00

3.24 6.37 Independent 3.56 3.85

24.60 20.72 PH 26.72 84.62

61.43 63.35 BN 58.52 11.54

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00

Neutral Positive Negative Attacked

• PH the highest coverage for Attacked coverage. • BN received the highest coverage for Neutral, Positive, and Negative tones.

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Section 2: Coverage of Politicians and Political Figures 2.1 Volume of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures Figure 7: Volume of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Chow Kon Yeow 4.45

Azalina Othman Said 4.68

Abdul Rahman Dahlan 4.76

Azmin Ali 5.52

Anwar Ibrahim 5.84

Abang Johari Tun Openg 6.65

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00

• Only politicians with a coverage weightage of more than 4% are shown on this graph. • Out of those selected, Abang Johari Tun Openg received the most mentions by a significant proportion (6.65%), followed by (5.84%).

Figure 8: Volume of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures: Government vs. Opposition vs. Independent/Other

Others BN 30% 29%

GS 2%

PH 39% • When the mentions of individual politicians and political figures are combined and merged into their respective coalitions, we can see that coverage of figures from both major coalitions is skewed towards PH (39%). • There was more coverage of PH compared to BN.

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2.2 Volume of the Use of Politicians & Political Figures as Sources Figure 9: Volume of the Use of Politicians & Political Figures as Sources

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi 4.18

S. Arutchelvan 4.48

Ambiga Sreenevasan 4.71

Abang Johari Tun Openg 5.11

Anuar Tahir 5.84

Salleh Said Keruak 6.83

Rais Hussin 7.46

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00

• Only the top 5 most mentioned politicians/those who have a weightage of more than 4% are shown on this graph. • Out of these 5, Rais Hussin received the most coverage (7.46%), followed by (6.83%).

Figure 10: Volume of the Use of Politicians & Political Figures As Sources: Government vs. Opposition vs. Independent/Other

Others 27% BN 39%

GS 3%

PH 31% • When the mentions of individual politicians and political figures are combined and merged into their respective coalitions, we can see that coverage is skewed towards BN (39%). BN received more coverage than PH.

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2.3 Tone of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures Figure 11: Raw Tonal Coverage Volume of Politicians & Political Figures Negative Attacked 10% 1%Positive 16%

Neutral 73% • Of all the tonal categories used in the coverage of politicians and political figures, the Neutral category was used the most often (73%), followed by the Positive category (16%).

Figure 12.1: Negative Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Azmin Ali 4.86

Abang Johari Tun Openg 6.13

Abdul Rahman Dahlan 7.21

Azalina Othman Said 7.93

Anwar Ibrahim 8.29

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00

• In terms of the tone of mentions of politicians and political figures, Anwar Ibrahim received the highest negative coverage (8.29%), followed by Azalina Othman Said (7.93%).

Figure 12.2: Attacked Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Shafie Apdal 4.44 4.44 6.67 Mah Siew Kong 8.89 Abang Johari Tun Openg 8.89 20.00 Abdul Rahman Dahlan 26.67

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

• Abdul Rahman Dahlan was attacked the most (26.67%), followed Mahathir Mohamad (20.00%).

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Figure 13.1: Positive Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Chow Kon Yeow 4.14

Darrel Iking 4.14

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi 4.37

Abang Johari Tun Openg 4.70

Abdul Rahman Dahlan 5.04

Azmin Ali 5.15

Anwar Ibrahim 8.06

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00

• In terms of the tone of mentions of politicians and political figures, Anwar Ibrahim received the most positive coverage (8.06%), followed by Azmin Ali (5.15%).

Figure 13.2: Neutral Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Abdul Rahman Dahlan 4.10

Anthony Loke 4.40

Azalina Othman Said 4.60

Chow Kon Yeow 4.82

Anwar Ibrahim 5.07

Azmin Ali 5.84

Abang Johari Tun Openg 7.14

0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00

• Abang Johari Tun Openg received the most neutral coverage (7.14%), followed by Azmin Ali (5.84%).

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Figure 14: Tone of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures: Government vs. Opposition vs. Independent/Other

Attacked 11.11 Neutral 31.31

Negative 27.08 Others Positive 29.90 Attacked 0.00 Neutral 2.06 GS Negative 1.08 Positive 1.57 Attacked 40.00 Neutral 38.10 PH Negative 35.56 Positive 40.09 Attacked 48.89 Neutral 28.53

BN Negative 36.28 Positive 28.44

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00

Overall, BN received the highest coverage for Attacked and Negative coverage. PH received the highest coverage Neutral and Positive coverage.

2.4 Tone of the Use of Politicians & Political Figures As Sources: Attack Politics or Negative Campaigning Figure 15: Attack Politics: Which Politicians and Political Figures Employ 'Attack Politics' Most Often?

Anuar Tahir 5.07

Hadi Awang 5.07

Rais Hussin 6.52

Liow Tiong Lai 7.25

Abang Johari Tun Openg 7.25

Mahathir Mohamad 14.49

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00

• This graph is weighted to show attack politics as a proportion of overall use as source. • Mahathir Mohamad was the politician most likely to engage in attack politics (14.49%), followed by Abang Johari Tun Openg and (7.25%).

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Figure 16: Attack Politics: Which Coalition Employs Attack Politics Most Often? BN 14%

PH 16%

GS Others 3% 67%

• This graph is weighted to show attack politics as a proportion of overall use as source. • Overall, Independent/Others party politicians engaged in attack politics most often (67%), followed by PH (16%) and BN (14%).

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Section 3: Coverage of Issues 3.1. Volume of Media Coverage of Policy Issues vs Non-Policy Issues Figure 17: Coverage of Policy vs Non-Policy Issues

Policy Issues 17%

Non-policy Issues 83%

Note: Non-policy issues were covered substantially more than Policy issues.

Figure 18: Policy Issues Oppressive Legislation Religion 6% 1% Vision National Security 18% 3% Foreign Policy 9%

Environment 8% Education 12%

Economy/Development 43%

Note: Economy/Development was the most covered topic, followed by Vision, and Education.

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Figure 18.1: Breakdown of Vision/Policy/Programme Other 1Malaysia 8% 11% GG Manifesto 9%

TN50 PH Manifesto 16% 7%

NEP BN Manifesto 5% 16%

PH Welfare 12% Transformasi NEM 15% 1% Note: BN manifesto and TN50 was the most covered topics, followed by Transformasi.

Figure 18.2: Breakdown of Economy/Development Issues Other Housing 1MDB 4% 7% 13% Infrastructure 4%

Recession 12% Inflation/GST 15%

Welfare 3%

FTA Unemployment 6% 12%

Poverty Growth 3% 11% Privatisation 10% Note: Inflation/GST was the most covered topic, followed by 1MDB, and Unemployment.

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Figure 19: Non-Policy Issues Ethnicity 8% Religion 1% Electioneering 26%

Democracy & Human Rights 23%

Gender 2% Mudslinging 3%

Socioeconomic sectors 11% Territory 26%

Note: Territory and Electioneering were the two most covered topics, followed by Democracy & Human Rights.

Figure 19.1: Breakdown of Socioeconomic Sectors Other Middle class/Professionals Cost of living 8% 9% 5% Working class 4% Rural Aristocracy/Monarchy 3% 1% Urban 3%

RELA/Wataniah Civil service 5% 17%

Senior Citizens/Retirees 10% Military and police Chinese new 8% villagers 7% FELDA Plantation/estate workers 8% 12% Note: Civil service was the most covered topic, followed by Plantation/estate workers, and Senior citizens/retirees.

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Figure 19.2: Breakdown of Territory Issues

Semenanjung// 12

Bangsa 4

Sabah Independence 1

Sarawak Independence 0

Terengganu 27

Selangor 72

Sarawak 47

Sabah 69

Penang 22

Perlis 34

Perak 53

Pahang 166

Negeri Sembilan 86

Malacca 118

Kelantan 125

Kedah 27

Johor 86

Putrajaya 16

Labuan 54

Kuala Lumpur 154

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Note: was the most covered territory, followed by and .

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