Public Opinion Survey: Residents of

June 2020 Detailed Methodology

• The survey was conducted on behalf of the International Republican Institute’s Center for Insights in Survey Research by Central Force under the supervision of Redstone Scientific. • Central Force contracted with Designs, Data, Decisions (D3) to provide sampling, data quality assurance and reporting support. • This computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey was conducted across Malaysia from June 4 - June 15, 2020 and is a nationally-representative sample of 1,207 mobile or landline-owning Malaysian citizens aged 18+. • The sample was drawn using dual-frame (landline and mobile) Random-Digit-Dialing (RDD). The sampling frames for both landlines and mobile phones were structured according to the National Numbering Plans from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). These frames are maintained and updated by D3 for national CATI surveys in Malaysia. • The method of respondent selection varied by mode: Landline respondents were selected using the Last Birthday method, while mobile phones were assumed to be personal devices and the person who answered was selected if he/she fit the eligibility criteria. • After the data collection, the file was post-weighted, using design weights (non-response and dual frame adjustment) and post-stratification weights (state, gender, age, ethnicity and urban/rural location based upon the 2019 estimates of the Malaysia Department of Statistics). In addition, excessive weights were trimmed and the sample was rescaled. • The margin of error at the midrange does not exceed 3.9 percent with a confidence level of 95 percent, which takes into account the design effect. • The response rate was 14.1 percent. While this response rate falls outside the parameters generally accepted by IRI, additional data checks did not reveal any particular associated with nonresponse. • Charts and graphs may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. National Outlook In general, would you say that our country is heading in the right direction or in the wrong direction? (Disaggregated by age group)

Total 83% 14% 3%

18-35 (n=540) 91% 7% 2%

36-50 (n=341) 81% 16% 3%

51-65 (n=254) 76% 18% 7%

66+ (n=69) 64% 36%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Right direction Wrong direction Don't know/Refused to answer What is the most important problem facing our country today? (Spontaneous response; first choice recorded)

COVID-19 23%

Healthcare 18%

Economy 11%

Cost of living, high prices 11%

Unemployment 10%

Politics 10%

Corruption 2% Lack of opportunities for small business, access to 2% loans Internal conflicts, including ethnic and religious 2% conflicts Other 2%

None 5%

Don't know/Refused to answer 2%

0% 10% 20% 30% What is the most important problem facing our country today? (Spontaneous response; first choice recorded; disaggregated by gender)

23% COVID-19 24% 23% Healthcare 13% 10% Economy 13% 12% Cost of living, high prices 11% 13% Unemployment 8% 6% Politics 13% 2% Corruption 3% Lack of opportunities for small business, access 1% to loans 3% Internal conflicts, including ethnic and religious 1% conflicts 3% 4% Other 5% 2% None 2% 2% Don't know/Refused to answer 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% Women (n=602) Men (n=605) How would you describe the current economic situation of your household? (Disaggregated by age group)

Total 11% 62% 21% 5% 1%

18-35 (n=540) 12% 68% 17% 3%

36-50 (n=341) 10% 57% 26% 7%

51-65 (n=254) 11% 56% 28% 5% 1%

66+ (n=69) 16% 53% 25% 6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very good Somewhat good Somewhat bad Very bad Don't know/Refused to answer Elections and Politics How likely, if at all, are you to vote in the next general election? (Disaggregated by ethnicity among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular ethnicity)

Total 62% 28% 6% 3% 2%

Malay (n=673) 72% 21% 3% 2%1%

Chinese (n=309) 46% 35% 13% 6% 1%

Indian (n=90) 58% 34% 1% 3% 3%

Bumiputera 52% 40% 4% 3%1% (n=123)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely Don't know/Refused to answer How likely, if at all, are you to vote in the next general election? (Disaggregated by age group)

Total 62% 28% 6% 3% 2%

18-35 (n=540) 61% 28% 7% 3%1%

36-50 (n=341) 63% 28% 5% 3% 2%

51-65 (n=254) 64% 24% 4% 6% 1%

66+ (n=69) 54% 38% 4% 1% 3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely Don't know/Refused to answer If there are two candidates running for office and they have the same qualifications aside from the fact that one is a man and one is a woman, which candidate are you more likely to support? (Disaggregated by gender)

Total 44% 7% 49%

Men (n=605) 46% 6% 48%

Women (n=602) 42% 8% 50%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Man Woman It does not make a difference to me Some people argue that the party choices in our country’s politics are too limited and that new political forces should provide other alternatives in future elections. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

1%

9%

29% Strongly agree 13% Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Don't know/Refused to answer

49% Some people argue that the party choices in our country’s politics are too limited and that new political forces should provide other alternatives in future elections. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? (Disaggregated by age group)

20% 32% Strongly agree 42% 32% 59% 46% Somewhat agree 33% 46% 13% 12% Somewhat disagree 12% 9% 7% 9% Strongly disagree 12% 12% 2% 1% Don't know/Refused to answer 2% 1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 18-35 (n=540) 36-50 (n=341) 51-65 (n=254) 66+ (n=69) Some people are concerned about freedom of elections and ballot box security in our country. Which of the following statements comes closest to your personal opinion regarding this matter? 50% 47%

40% 39%

30%

20% 13%

10%

1% 0% Elections in our country I have some concerns Elections in our country Don't know/Refused to today are free and about the freedom of today are not free and answer ballot box security is the electoral process ballot box security is ensured and safety of the ballot not ensured boxes, but it is still possible to conduct democratic elections in our country today Some people are concerned about freedom of elections and ballot box security in our country. Which of the following statements comes closest to your personal opinion regarding this matter? 60% (Disaggregated by age group) 51% 50% 46% 47% 47% 39% 39% 40% 36% 37%

30%

20% 15% 12% 14% 9% 10% 6% 1% 1% 1% 0% Elections in our country I have some concerns Elections in our country Don't know/Refused to today are free and about the freedom of today are not free and answer ballot box security is the electoral process ballot box security is ensured and safety of the ballot not ensured boxes, but it is still possible to conduct democratic elections in our country today 18-35 (n=540) 36-50 (n=341) 51-65 (n=254) 66+ (n=69) Democracy and Political Freedom How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way democracy is developing in our country? (Disaggregated by gender)

Total 29% 45% 19% 7%

Men (n=605) 31% 37% 22% 9% 1%

Women (n=602) 27% 53% 15% 5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied Don't know/Refused to answer How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way democracy is developing in our country? (Disaggregated by age group)

Total 29% 45% 19% 7%

18-35 (n=540) 24% 53% 17% 5%

36-50 (n=341) 26% 42% 22% 9% 1%

51-65 (n=254) 41% 34% 16% 10%

66+ (n=69) 34% 33% 23% 10%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatified Very dissatisfied Don't know/Refused to answer How likely or unlikely is it that ordinary people are able to influence decisions made in our country? (Disaggregated by age group)

Total 40% 39% 14% 6% 1%

18-35 (n=540) 34% 50% 12% 4%

36-50 (n=341) 39% 35% 15% 10% 1%

51-65 (n=254) 54% 24% 13% 7% 2%

66+ (n=69) 38% 22% 35% 6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very likely Somewhat likely Somewhat unlikely Very unlikely Don't know/Refused to answer How likely or unlikely is it that ordinary people are able to influence decisions made in our country? (Disaggregated by ethnicity among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular ethnicity) 48% Very likely 21% 23% 57%

41% Somewhat likely 38% 39% 27%

7% Somewhat unlikely 28% 30% 7%

3% Very unlikely 12% 8% 9%

1% Don't know 1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Malay (n=673) Chinese (n=309) Indian (n=90) (n=123) Do people in our country feel free to openly express their opinions or are they afraid?

1%

7%

24% Very free

Somewhat free

30% Somewhat afraid

Very afraid

Don't know/Refused to answer

38% Do you believe that democracy is the best possible form of government for our country or not? 70% 66%

60%

50%

40%

30% 22% 20% 12% 10% 1% 0% Yes, it is the best No, there are other No, there are other Don't know/Refused to possible form of forms of government forms of government answer government for our that could be equally that are better than country good for our country democracy Corruption Now I would like to discuss corruption with you. When I say corruption, I mean having to do a favor, give a gift or pay a bribe because someone misuses their position for personal gains. To what extent, if any, has corruption had a negative impact on you?

It has had a lot of negative impact 69%

It has had some negative impact 19%

It has had little negative impact 7%

It has not had any negative impact 5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Foreign Relations What should our country’s foreign policy course be?

Only pro-West 20%

Pro-West but keep up relations with China 38%

Pro-China but keep up relations with the West 25%

Only pro-China 7%

Don't know/Refused to answer 9%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% What should our country’s foreign policy course be? (Disaggregated by ethnicity among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular ethnicity)

23% Only pro-West 6% 28% 32%

40% Pro-Western but keep relations 40% with China 34% 29%

22% Pro-China but keep relations with 38% the West 14% 18%

6% Only pro-China 8% 11% 7%

9% Don't know/Refused to answer 8% 12% 14%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Malay (n=673) Chinese (n=309) Indian (n=90) Bumiputera (n=123) As you may have heard, there is an outbreak of a new disease called Coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. Thinking now about how the Chinese government handled the situation, would you say that they did a very good, somewhat good, somewhat bad or very bad job?

2% 10%

Very good job 33% 11% Somewhat good job

Somewhat bad job

Very bad job

Don't know/Refused to answer

45% As you may have heard, there is an outbreak of a new disease called Coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. Thinking now about how the Chinese government handled the situation, would you say that they did a very good, somewhat good, somewhat bad or very bad job? (Disaggregated by ethnicity among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular ethnicity)

Total 33% 45% 11% 10% 2%

Malay (n=673) 27% 48% 13% 11% 1%

Chinese (n=309) 49% 44% 5% 1%1%

Indian (n=90) 24% 35% 17% 19% 6%

Bumiputera 32% 41% 11% 16% (n=123)

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Very good job Somewhat good job Somwhat bad job Very bad job Don't know/Refused to answer Would you say you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Malaysia is facing a cultural invasion by the West and it is one of the most serious problems facing Malaysia.” And would you say you strongly or somewhat agree/disagree? (Disaggregated by age group)

Total 30% 27% 24% 18% 2%

18-35 (n=540) 29% 34% 26% 10% 1%

36-50 (n=341) 31% 21% 30% 17% 2%

51-65 (n=254) 32% 22% 12% 31% 3%

66+ (n=69) 20% 22% 23% 29% 6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know/Refused to answer Personal Identity and Values When it comes to identity, people have different ways of thinking about themselves. Which of the following best describes you?

Above all, I am Malay/Chinese/Indian/Kadazan or Dusan/Baju/Murut/Melayu or 11% Melanau/Iban/

Above all, I am a Muslim/Christian/Hindu/Buddhist/Other 29%

Above all, I am Malaysian 50%

Above all, I consider myself a citizen of the world 10%

Don't know/Refused to answer 1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% When it comes to identity, people have different ways of thinking about themselves. Which of the following best describes you? (Disaggregated by age group)

9% Above all, I am Malay/Chinese/Indian/Kadazan or 12% Dusan/Baju/Murut/Melayu Sarawak or Melanau/Iban/Bidayuh 12% 9%

34% Above all, I am a 27% Muslim/Christian/Hindu/Buddhist/Other 22% 34%

43% 53% Above all, I am Malaysian 60% 50%

14% 8% Above all, I consider myself a citizen of the world 5% 7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

18-35 (n=540) 36-50 (n=341) 51-65 (n=254) 66+ (n=69) When it comes to identity, people have different ways of thinking about themselves. Which of the following best describes you? (Disaggregated by ethnicity)

11% Above all, I am Malay/Chinese/Indian/Kadazan or 12% Dusan/Baju/Murut/Melayu Sarawak or Melanau/Iban/Bidayuh 6% 8%

42% Above all, I am a 6% Muslim/Christian/Hindu/Buddhist/Other 8% 33%

37% 74% Above all, I am Malaysian 70% 43%

9% 8% Above all, I consider myself a citizen of the world 17% 16%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Malay (n=673) Chinese (n=309) Indian (n=90) Bumiputera (n=123) To what extent would you say you are proud to be a Malaysian, if at all?

<1%

6%

Very proud 21% Somewhat proud

Not very proud

Not proud at all

Don't know/Refused to answer 72% Would you say you agree or disagree with the following statements? And do you strongly or somewhat agree or disagree?

Educating boys is more important 21% 16% 24% 39% 1% than educating girls

It is acceptable for a man to have 14% 26% 20% 39% 2% more than one wife

A wife must always obey her 54% 21% 9% 15% 1% husband

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know/Refused to answer Would you say you agree or disagree with the following statements? And do you strongly or somewhat agree or disagree? (Disaggregated by gender)

Educating Men (n=605) 23% 12% 25% 39% 1% boys is more important than Women (n=602) 19% 19% 23% 39% educating girls

It is Men (n=605) acceptable for 19% 33% 18% 27% 2% a man to have more than one Women (n=602) 8% 18% 22% 51% wife

Men (n=605) 58% 16% 10% 15% 1% A wife must always obey her husband Women (n=602) 50% 26% 9% 15%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know/Refused to answer Would you say you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Having people with different religious and political beliefs makes Malaysia stronger.” (Disaggregated by religion among respondents who declared themselves as belonging to a particular religion)

Total 30% 34% 21% 13% 3%

Islam (n=735) 27% 36% 23% 12% 2%

Buddhism (n=206) 32% 32% 23% 9% 4%

Christianity (n=135) 37% 29% 13% 17% 4%

Hinduism (n=65) 46% 19% 17% 15% 3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know/Refused to answer If you had a choice between a secular civic state or a religious state, which would you prefer to live in?

2% 14% Strongly prefer a secular state Somewhat prefer a 39% secular state 21% Somewhat prefer a religious state Strongly prefer a religious state Don't know/Refused to answer

25% Which of the following statements best matches your own opinion of the role that religion should play in government and law making?

50%

43%

40% 34%

30%

22% 20%

10%

2% 0% Religious texts should Religious texts should Religious texts should Don't know/Refused to be the source for all be one consideration not play a role at all answer policy and lawmaking but not the only one . Media Habits Now I am going to ask you some questions about the internet. To start, do you have access to the internet?

13%

87%

Yes No How often do you use the internet?

Almost every day 75%

At least once a week 7%

At least once a month 2%

Rarely, if ever 14%

Don't know/Refused to answer 2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Have you ever used Facebook?

15%

86%

Yes No When you are using Facebook, how often do you do so in English? (Asked of those who have ever used Facebook; n=1,031)

25% Almost always 37% Sometimes

Never

37% How often do you use the internet?

Social media, such as Facebook or WhatsApp 38%

Television 30%

Internet (other than social media) 25%

Print media 4%

Radio 2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Intercommunal Harmony At the current time, how do you rate the level of harmony between different religious communities in Malaysia? (Disaggregated by religion among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular religion)

32% 50% Total 12% 5% 1% 38% 49% (n=735) 9% 3%

13% 49% (n=206) 27% 8% 3% 24% 57% (n=135) 6% 10% 4% 47% 42% (n=65) 9% 2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Very good Somewhat good Somewhat bad Very bad Don't know/Refused to answer Compared to five years ago, how has the level of harmony between different religious communities in Malaysia changed? (Disaggregated by religion among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular religion) 17% 33% 25% Total 17% 7% 1% 19% 33% 24% Islam (n=735) 18% 7%

11% 33% 30% Buddhism (n=206) 19% 7%

17% 41% 22% Christianity (n=135) 12% 6% 3% 21% 30% 27% Hinduism (n=65) 12% 5% 5% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Improved a lot Improved somewhat Stayed the same Worsened somewhat Worsened a lot Don't know/Refused to answer In the next five years, how do you expect the level of harmony between different religious communities in Malaysia to change? (Disaggregated by religion among respondents who declared themselves belonging to a particular religion) 26% 38% 22% Total 8% 4% 2% 32% 40% 17% Islam (n=735) 7% 3% 2% 9% 38% 34% Buddhism (n=206) 12% 4% 3% 18% 42% 27% Christianity (n=135) 7% 4% 2% 38% 36% 18% Hinduism (n=65) 8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Improve a lot Improve somewhat Stay the same Worsen somewhat Worsen a lot Don't know/Refused to answer Demographics

Gender Religion Employment Status Female 50% Muslim 61% Employed full-time 56% Male 50% Buddhist 17% Unemployed 7% Christian 11% Homemaker 12% Hindu 5% Retired 9% Age Other or none 5% Employed part-time 8% 18-35 years old 45% Student 8% 36-50 years old 28% 51-65 years old 21% Education 66+ years old 6% Primary education or less 11% Ethnicity Secondary school 45% Malay 56% Higher education 43% Chinese 26% Monthly Income* Indian 7% Less than RM1,000 18% Married Bumiputera 10% RM1,001 - 2,000 30% Yes 56% Other 1% RM2,001 - 4,000 25% No 43% RM4,001 - 7,000 15% Location RM7,001 - 12,000 7% 1% RM12,001 or above 4% 7% Don’t know/Refused 3% 6% 4% 6% 9% 5% 20% 6% 4% Melaka 3% 12% 9% Sarawak 9% *At the time of survey release 1 was equivalent to 0.238 US Dollars Center for Insights in Survey Research 202.408.9450 | [email protected] www.IRI.org | @IRI_Polls