Najib better liked than Anwar, PKR survey shows

By Yow Hong Chieh

November 11, 2011

Najib was considered more popular, while Anwar (left) was seen as more decisive. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak is more popular than Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but is seen as more indecisive and a poorer communicator, a PKR internal poll has found.

The prime minister was seen positively by 53 per cent of voters compared to 38 per cent who gave him the thumbs-down, according to the survey obtained by The Malaysian Insider.

Much of Najib’s support came from the Malay community, where he was well-regarded by 71 per cent of those polled (net positive 46 points), compared to 34 per cent of Chinese voters (net negative 18 points).

Voters in the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold of Johor were more likely to back the Umno president (61 per cent), followed by those in Perak (52 per cent), Selangor (49 per cent) and Kuala Lumpur (47 per cent).

In contrast, Anwar scored just a 40 per cent approval rating, with 48 per cent saying they disapproved of the de facto PKR chief.

Only 32 per cent of Malay voters said they favoured the former Umno number two compared to 61 per cent that did not.

Female voters, in particular, did not like Anwar, with 53 per cent saying they disapproved of him (net negative 21 points), compared to an approval rating of 47 per cent among male voters (net positive two points).

Malay women especially saw Anwar in poor light, with 69 per cent saying they viewed him poorly compared to just 24 per cent who did not.

Chinese voters, on the other hand, were slightly more likely to back Anwar, with 43 per cent saying they approved of him, a net positive of two points.

He was better regarded in PKR-led Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (44 per cent) than in Perak (38 per cent) and Johor (35 per cent).

Anwar was most popular among those aged 40 and above (43 per cent) while Najib was best liked in the 30-39 age group (55 per cent).

While the opposition leader was almost equally popular among graduates and non-graduates — 42 and 40 per cent respectively — the prime minister found more favour with non-degree holders (61 per cent versus 49 per cent).

The survey noted, however, that Anwar could leverage his image as a strong and decisive leader with good communication skills and an understanding of economic issues to combat Najib’s “surface appeal”.

The former finance minister scored better in those three areas than Najib, who was seen as being more in touch with ordinary Malaysians and having ideas and policies for the country’s future.

The survey, released to PKR last month, was conducted between August 22 and September 15 and polled 1,000 voters in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak and Johor.