PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ON THE MCA PARTY ELECTIONS

25 March 2010

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MERDEKA CENTER FOR OPINION RESEARCH 901B Diamond Complex, 43650 Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor,

Tel: 603 8210 1488/1499 Fax: 603 8210 1466 Email: [email protected] Web: www.merdeka.org

2 Methodology

• 805 randomly selected respondents aged 21+ from across Peninsular Malaysia were interviewed via telephone for the survey

• Respondents were selected via random stratified sampling method along the lines of state of residence, ethnicity, gender and age

• Survey was carried out between 17th to 23rd March 2010

• Survey margin of error estimated at ±3.50%

• Important events during survey period: Nomination of candidates to the MCA re-election, Parliament session of Q1, 2010, demonstrations by Orang Asli at Putrajaya and tussle between TNB & residents of new village at Rawang.

Note: Total percentages presented may or may not add up to 100% due to rounding up of figures. 3 Respondent Profile pt.1 Age Setting 30% Ethinicity 24% 25% 100% 19% 20% 18% 80% 15% 60% Urban 60% 58% 10% 40% 30% Rural 42% 20% 9% 0% 0% 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 Above 60 Malay Chinese Indian

Education level

60% Gender 47%

40%

19% 20% 15% 16%

Male Female 2% 52% 48% 0% No formal Primary Secondary Diploma Degree education school school and -20% equivalent Respondent Profile pt. 2

Internet access 60% Occupation 80% 47% 60% 55% 40%

40% 26% 20% 17% 11% 12% 20% 8% 7% 7% 5% 4% 0% 0% At home At At home and Mobile internet & No internet Management Self Professional Executive Non Not in work workplace/school workplace/school other locaton access employed executive force

Monthly household income Religion 40% 36% 100%

30% 26% 80% 61% 60% 20% 14% 15% 40% 8% 10% 21% 20% 8% 5% 3% 0% 2% 0% < RM1,500 per RM1,501- RM3,001- > RM5000 per Don't know mth RM3,000 per RM5,000 per mth None Islam Buddhism Hindu Christianity Taoist mth mth Awareness & Perceptions of MCA

6 Have you heard or read about the current developments in MCA now?

Yes No Don't know

100%

82% 80% 75% 73%

62% 60%

40% 38%

27% 25%

20% 16%

1% 1% 1% 0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

7 (If YES) How frequent do you follow the developments regarding MCA? (n=601)

Infrequently Sometimes Often Don't Know

40% 38%

31% 29% 29% 28% 27% 28% 25% 23% 23% 22% 22% 21% 20% 18% 18% 16%

0% Overall (601) Malay (352) Chinese (202) Indian(47)

Ethnicity

8 Now I am going to read you some statements, how strongly do you agree or disagree that…. MCA is still relevant to the Chinese community in Malaysia today?

80%

67% 62% 60% 60% 58%

45% 40% 46% 46% 33% 31% 46% 32% 28%

18% 18% 16% 20% 20% 11% 22% 6% 7% 16% 14% 15% 4% 16% 13% 12% 11% 7% 9% 1% 6% 3%

0%

Agree Agree Agree Agree

DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR

Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree

Overall(805) Malay(484) Chinese(245) Indian(76)

9 Now I am going to read you some statement, how strongly do you agree or disagree that… MCA is talking about issues that are important to the Chinese community? 80%

67% 62% 60% 60% 58%

45% 40% 46% 46% 33% 31% 46% 32% 28%

18% 18% 16% 20% 20% 11% 22% 6% 7% 16% 14% 15% 4% 16% 13% 12% 11% 7% 9% 1% 6% 3%

0%

Agree Agree Agree Agree

DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR

Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree

Overall(805) Malay(484) Chinese(245) Indian(76)

10 Perception on MCA Party Election

11 What do you think is the main cause(s) of the MCA power struggle?

Exposure of the PKFZ scandal by Sacking of the as deputy due to (overdue) sex scandal 60% Betrayal of the MCA leaders in the EGM Weakened position of MCA in BN since GE12 Others Don't know

45% 41% 40% 37%

25% 22% 20% 18% 17% 17% 17% 18% 15% 14% 12% 13% 13% 11% 11% 9% 9% 9% 8% 7% 4% 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

12 What kind of the leadership quality/characteristic that you prefer to lead MCA?

Don't know 25% Chinese Overall(805) (245) Stand out/speak out on important issues 13% Don't know 25% 27%

Honesty 9% Stand out/speak out on 13% 26% Being fair/democratic 8% important issues 9% 3% Honesty Good leadership skill 8% 8% 10% Being fair/democratic More united & cooperative 6% Good leadership skill 8% 8%

Competency 6% 6% 3% More united & cooperative 6% 1% No response 5% Competency 5% 5% Clean/good moral value 5% No response Clean/good moral value 5% 4% Listens to the people 4% 4% 4% Listens to the people Not selfish 4% 4% 6% Not selfish Other qualities 4% 4% 2% Other qualities Responsiblefor action 3% 3% 1% Responsiblefor action 2% 1% Transparency 2% Transparency 13 In your opinion, what do you think MCA needs to do to regain the confidence of the Chinese community?

Chinese Don't know 31% Overall(805) (245) 31% 28% Retain good leaders 23% Don't know 23% 21% Retain good leaders Listens to the people 10% Listens to the people 10% 9% 9% 7% Be more united 9% Be more united Resolve the internal struggle 8% 9% in MCA Resolve the internal struggle in MCA 8% 6% 7% No response No response 6% 6% 6% Reform the party 4% 5% Reform the party 6% Other reasons 3% 4% Fulfill the people's promises Other reasons 4% 1% 2% Nothing to do Fulfill the people's promises 3%

Nothing to do 1%

14 I am going to read you a list of leaders in MCA, please choose whom you think is able to lead the party?

Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian (76) Total (805) Ong Tee Keat 36% 30% 36% 34% Liow Tiong Lai 18% 10% 18% 16% Chua Soik Lek 12% 12% 12% 12% 3% 6% 1% 4% 1% 3% 5% 2% 8% 15% 8% 10% Others 1% 2% 0% 1% Don't Know 18% 16% 13% 17% No response 3% 5% 7% 4%

15 Do you think the following MCA leaders should contest or step down in the coming MCA party election? ….Ong Tee Keat

Step down Contest Don't Know No response

80%

68% 70% 65% 60% 60%

40%

24% 19% 20% 16% 14% 14% 13% 14% 14%

3% 2% 2% 1% 0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

16 Do you think the following MCA leaders should contest or step down in the coming MCA party election? ….Chua Soi Lek

Step down Contest Don't Know No response

80%

63%

60%

50% 47% 47%

40% 38% 35% 33%

20% 20% 15% 16% 14% 13%

2% 2% 3% 1% 0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

17 Do you think the following MCA leaders should contest or step down in the coming MCA party election? ….Ong Ka Ting

Step down Contest Don't Know No response

80%

69% 63% 64%

60% 57%

40%

28%

20% 18% 20% 16% 14% 16% 13% 12%

3% 2% 2% 1% 0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

18 Do you agree with the view that Ong Tee Keat and Chua Soi Lek should withhold from contesting in the party election?

80%

60% 53% 50% 50% 49%

17% 21% 40% 22% 36% 33% 34% 31% 29%

21% 25% 15% 20% 20% 17% 28% 34% 14% 5% 3% 32% 13% 28% 3% 20% 13% 16% 16% 12% 11% 12% 13% 7%

0%

Agree Agree Agree Agree

DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR

Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree

Overall(805) Malay(484) Chinese(245) Indian(76)

19 Perception on Ong Tee Keat

20 I am going to read you some words people have used to describe Ong Tee Keat, please tell me how strongly you agree or disagree that Ong Tee Keat is…?

Strongly Agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't Know No response

Lack of principle 6% 31% 17% 17% 25% 4%

Combative 11% 45% 12% 9% 19% 4%

Authoritarian 9% 34% 13% 12% 27% 4%

Can stand up to UMNO 7% 36% 18% 14% 22% 3%

Brave/Conrageous 16% 57% 8% 6% 10% 3%

Clean 6% 33% 20% 13% 24% 4%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

21 Do you agree or disagree that someone is behind the MCA crisis to remove Ong Tee Keat because he exposed the Port Klang Free Zone(PKFZ) issue?

80%

60%

43% 44% 43% 39% 40% 38%

29% 29% 26% 29% 26% 23% 22% 21% 3% 32% 19% 20% 2% 13% 18% 18% 13% 1% 3% 12% 13% 11% 22% 19% 18% 8% 18% 16% 16% 14% 12% 14% 13% 14% 4% 11% 11% 8% 4% 4%

0%

Agree Agree Agree Agree

Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe

DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR

Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree

Overall(805) Malay(484) Chinese(245) Indian(76)

22 Do you agree or disagree with the view that some MCA leaders are working together to remove Ong Tee Keat from office?

80%

60%

43% 44% 43% 39% 40% 38%

29% 29% 26% 29% 26% 23% 22% 21% 3% 32% 19% 20% 2% 13% 18% 18% 13% 1% 3% 12% 13% 11% 22% 19% 18% 8% 18% 16% 16% 14% 12% 14% 13% 14% 4% 11% 11% 8% 4% 4%

0%

Agree Agree Agree Agree

Maybe Maybe Maybe Maybe

DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR DK/NR

Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree

Overall(805) Malay(484) Chinese(245) Indian(76)

23 Do you think Ong Tee Keat’s action to expose PKFZ scandal has improved or damaged the reputation MCA?

Damage Improve Don't Know No response

60%

51% 47% 47%

39% 40% 39% 38%

32%

23%

20% 19% 17% 17% 12%

7% 5% 5% 3%

0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

24 If Ong Tee Keat contests in the party election, do you think that he will win?

Yes No Don't Know No response

60% 55%

47%

41% 39% 40% 37% 36% 33% 30% 26%

21% 20% 14% 14%

2% 2% 2% 0% Overall (805) Malay (484) Chinese (245) Indian(76)

Ethnicity

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