Watching the Watchdog 2.0 China Press

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 0.00 0.00 SAPP 0.00 0.00 PDP 0.00 0.00 PBRS 0.00 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 0.12 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.12 0.15 SUPP 0.15 0.31 PBS 0.31 0.31 AMANAH 0.58 0.66 Other 0.81 0.92 Gerakan 1.23 1.66 PAS 3.97 6.36 UMNO 8.40 9.29 DAP 10.02 20.92 BN 30.40 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00

• BN received the most coverage (30.40%), followed by PH (20.92%) and DAP (10.02%).

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

GS 4.26

Independent 1.13

PH 42.20

BN 52.41

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00

• Once parties/coalitions’ coverage volumes are combined, BN received the highest level of coverage (52.41%), followed by PH (42.20%) and GS (4.26%).

1.2 Tone of Coverage of Political Parties & Coalitions Figure 3: Raw Tonal Coverage Volume of Political Parties & Coalitions

Attacked 19% Positive 28%

Negative 10%

Neutral 43%

• The Neutral tone was used the most (43%), followed by Positive (28%) and Attacked (19%).

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Figure 4.1: Attacked Political Party & Coalition Coverage

STAR 0.00 USNO 0.00 Warisan 0.00 LDP 0.00 Other 0.00 UPKO 0.00 SUPP 0.00 SAPP 0.00 PSM 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.00 PDP 0.00 PCM 0.00 PBS 0.00 PBRS 0.00 PBB 0.00 MIC 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.41 AMANAH 0.82 PKR 0.82 PPBM 1.23 PAS 1.23 Gerakan 1.84 MCA 6.75 UMNO 10.43 DAP 12.27 PH 24.13 BN 34.36 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00

• BN received the most Attacked coverage (34.36%), followed by PH (24.13%) and DAP (12.27%).

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Figure 4.2: Negative Political Party & Coalition Coverage

STAR 0.00 USNO 0.00 LDP 0.00 UPKO 0.00 SUPP 0.00 SAPP 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.00 PDP 0.00 PCM 0.00 PBRS 0.00 PBB 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.00 Warisan 0.80 Other 0.80 PSM 0.80 PBS 0.80 MIC 1.59 Gerakan 1.59 AMANAH 1.99 PPBM 2.79 PAS 3.19 DAP 8.76 MCA 9.96 PKR 11.16 UMNO 12.35 PH 15.94 BN 25.50 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

• BN received the most Negative coverage (25.50%), followed by PH (15.94%) and UMNO (12.35%).

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Figure 5.1: Positive Political Party & Coalition Coverage

USNO 0.00 LDP 0.00 UPKO 0.00 SAPP 0.00 PRM 0.00 PRS 0.00 PDP 0.00 PBRS 0.00 PBB 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 PBS 0.18 MIC 0.18 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.18 STAR 0.37 AMANAH 0.37 SUPP 0.37 PCM 0.37 Gerakan 0.37 Other 0.55 Warisan 1.11 PSM 1.29 PPBM 1.85 PAS 5.35 PKR 6.83 UMNO 7.56 DAP 10.89 MCA 13.47 BN 14.21 PH 31.18 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00

• PH received the most positive coverage (31.18%), followed by BN (14.21%) and MCA (13.47%).

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Figure 5.2: Neutral Political Party & Coalition Coverage

USNO 0.00 LDP 0.00 SAPP 0.00 PRS 0.00 PDP 0.00 PCM 0.00 PBRS 0.00 PBB 0.00 IKATAN 0.00 Gagasan Sejahtera 0.00 SUPP 0.18 MIC 0.18 PRM 0.27 AMANAH 0.37 UPKO 0.37 PBS 0.46 STAR 0.55 PSM 0.64 Warisan 1.47 Other 1.47 Gerakan 1.56 PPBM 1.83 PAS 5.22 UMNO 7.97 PKR 8.42 MCA 9.43 DAP 10.26 PH 20.05 BN 25.18 0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

• BN received the most Neutral coverage (25.18%) followed by PH (20.05%) and DAP (10.26%).

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

5.53 5.76 GS 2.13 1.74

1.55 2.11 Independent 0.53 0.00

44.91 54.32 PH 27.73 41.65

48.01 37.81 BN 69.60 56.62

0.00 10.00 20.00 30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00

Neutral Positive Negative Attacked

• PH received the most Positive coverage, while BN received the most Neutral, Attacked, and Negative coverage.

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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

Lim Guan Eng 2.57

Tian Chua 3.34

Lim Kit Siang 3.55

Najib Razak 14.95

Mahathir Mohamad 17.45

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00

• Only the top 5 most mentioned politicians are shown on this graph. • Out of these 5, received the most mentions by a significant proportion (17.45%), followed by (14.95%).

Figure 8: Volume of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures: Government vs.Opposition vs. Independent/Other BN 24% Others 40%

GS PH 0% 36% • When the mentions of individual politicians and political figures are combined and merged into their respective coalitions, we can see that coverage of figures is skewed towards Independent/ Others (40%). • There was more coverage of PH compared to BN.

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

Liow Tiong Lai 5.30 6.14 6.80 8.02 Mahathir Mohamad 10.93 Najib Razak 15.38

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00

• Only the top 5 most mentioned politicians are shown on this graph. • Out of these 5, Najib Razak received the most coverage (15.38%), followed by Mahathir Mohamad (10.93%).

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

Others 20%

BN GS 40% 1%

PH 39%

• 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 (40%). PH received almost similar coverage to BN.

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2.3 Tone of Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures Figure 11: Raw Tonal Coverage Volume of Politicians & Political Figures Attacked Positive 20% 18%

Negative 8%

Neutral 54% • Of all the tonal categories used in the coverage of politicians and political figures, the Neutral category was used the most often (54%), followed by the Attacked category (20%).

Figure 12.1: Negative Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Liow Tiong Lai 3.48

Muhyiddin Yassin 3.48

Musa Aman 3.48

Tian Chua 6.09

Mahathir Mohamad 16.52

Najib Razak 19.13

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00

• In terms of the tone of mentions of politicians and political figures, Najib Razak received the highest negative coverage (19.13%), followed by Mahathir Mohamad (16.52%).

Figure 12.2: Attacked Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Lim Guan Eng 2.49

Wee Ka Siong 2.85

Anwar Ibrahim 3.20

Mahathir Mohamad 31.67

Najib Razak 35.23

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00

• Najib Razak was attacked the most (35.23%), followed by Mahathir Mohamad (31.67%).

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Figure 13.1: Positive Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Lim Guan Eng 2.85

Wee Ka Siong 3.66

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi 3.66

Najib Razak 10.98

Mahathir Mohamad 19.11

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00

• In terms of the tone of mentions of politicians and political figures, Mahathir Mohamad received the most positive coverage (19.11%), followed by Najib Razak (10.98%).

Figure 13.2: Neutral Coverage of Politicians & Political Figures

Lim Guan Eng 2.93

Lim Kit Siang 4.52

Tian Chua 4.92

Najib Razak 7.98

Mahathir Mohamad 11.44

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00

• Mahathir Mohamad received the most neutral coverage (11.44%), followed by Najib Razak (7.98%).

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

Attacked 0.00 Neutral 42.91

Negative Others 27.66 Positive 33.11 Attacked 0.00 Neutral 14.19 GS Negative 18.44 Positive 16.89 Attacked 0.00 Neutral 29.52 PH Negative 30.50 Positive 29.39 Attacked 0.00 Neutral 13.39

BN Negative 23.40 Positive 20.61

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00 35.00 40.00 45.00 50.00

Overall, Independent/Others received the highest Neutral and Positive coverage, while PH received the highest Negative coverage. No Attacked coverage was recorded.

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?

Wee Ka Siong 4.31 Liow Tiong Lai 4.47 Ahmad Zahid Hamidi 5.27 6.39 Lim Kit Siang 9.74 Lim Guan Eng 10.54 Mahathir Mohamad 11.82 Najib Razak 16.45

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00

• This graph is weighted to show attack politics as a proportion of overall use as source. • Najib Razak was the politician most likely to engage in attack politics (16.45%), followed by Mahathir Mohamad (11.82%).

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Figure 16: Attack Politics: Which Coalition Employs Attack Politics Most Often?

Others 20%

BN GS 40% 1%

PH 39%

• This graph is weighted to show attack politics as a proportion of overall use as source. • Overall, BN party politicians engaged in attack politics most often (40%), followed by PH (39%) and Independent/Others (20%).

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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 28%

Non-policy Issues 72%

Note: Non-policy issues received more coverage compared to Policy issues.

Figure 18: Policy Issues Oppressive Religion Vision Legislation 1% 9% Environment National Security 8% 1% 5%

Foreign Policy 19%

Economy/Develop ment 46%

Education 11%

Note: Economy/Development issues were the most covered, followed by Foreign Policy and Education.

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Figure 18.1: Breakdown of Vision/Policy/Programme Other 3%

BN Manifesto 47%

PH Manifesto 50%

Note: PH manifesto received the most coverage, followed by BN manifesto. No mention was made of Gagasan manifesto.

Figure 18.2: Breakdown of Economy/Development Issues 1MDB 9% Other 22% Welfare 13%

Unemployment Housing 8% 8%

Poverty 9% Infrastructure Growth 18% Inflation/GST 9% 4% Note: Infrastructure was the most covered topic, followed be Welfare and Growth/Poverty/1MDB.

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Figure 19: Non-Policy Issues Gender Electioneering 2% 8% Mudslinging 1% Ethnicity 31%

Territory 28%

Religion 1%

Socioeconomic Democracy & sectors Human Rights 3% 26% Note: Ethnicity was the most covered topic, followed by Territory and Democracy & Human rights.

Figure 19.1: Breakdown of Socioeconomic Sectors

Working class Other 18% 22%

Chinese new villagers 4% Urban 4%

Cost of living 15%

Rural 37% Note: Rural was the most covered sector, followed by Working class and Cost of living.

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Figure 19.2: Breakdown of Territory Issues

Semenanjung// 1 Bangsa 0 Sabah Independence 7 Sarawak Independence 2 9 38 Sarawak 30 Sabah 37 45 1 20 3 6 2 13 23 Johor 20 1 2 1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

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

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