PM Najib used to love our surveys, says Umcedel

Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (Umcedel) has noted BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak’s disagreement with their latest survey, saying he used to be “thrilled” with the department’s past findings.

“Compared to surveys that we had carried out previously, Najib used to have a different opinion (of the results).

“During the opening ceremony of the national level Majlis Ihsan Samudera at Kampung Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan on January 21, 2012, Najib admitted being thrilled with Umcedel’s survey that showed that BN would continue to rule (after the general election),” said Umcedel’s secretariat in a statement today.

It cited various mainstream media reports on Najib’s response carried in RTMTV1's prime time news and TV3's Bulletin Utama, as well as Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.

“(At that time) there were no questions raised on our survey, except to express excitement (over the results),” said Umcedel.

According to Utusan’s report last January 25, Jerlun MP Mukhriz Mahathir also sang praises for Umcedel for its positive survey.

Mukhriz was reported saying the 2012 survey was proof that BR1M, KR1M and other programmes were increasing the people’s confidence in the BN government.

Yesterday Najib rubbished the department’s latest findings that he is four points behind PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim as the preferred choice of prime minister.

“I don't agree with the poll. We have our own poll. My poll indicates that we are ahead," Najib said.

Pro-BN commentators also questioned Umcedel’s methodology, with one academic blaming the survey results on respondents “planted” by Pakatan.

In its defence, Umcedel said it was happy to discuss the survey with any parties who wished to scrutinise its methodology.

“Worthless, half-baked views and comments by academics made without studying the survey closely is most regretted,” said Umcedel.