Unlike the peninsula, Sarawakians happy with religious freedom

Survey conducted by Merdeka Center shows Sarawakians are generally happy with the state government.

PETALING JAYA: The majority of Sarawak’s voters interviewed by independent research outfit Merdeka Center have expressed satisfaction over the state’s protection of religious freedom.

This was stated by 88% of the 815 respondents surveyed between Jan 20 and Jan 26 this year.

The sentiment was shared by all races there, including the Muslim Bumiputeras (91%), the non-Muslim Bumiputeras (84%) and the Chinese (90%).

Sarawak is well-known for the harmony that exists among the races there. In order to maintain the harmony, Chief Minister Adenan Satem has barred several Opposition leaders from entering the state.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Publicity Chief Peter Minos, in an interview with FMT last month, said the move was taken not as an act of discrimination, but merely to protect the racial harmony enjoyed by Sarawakians.

Adenan had also made headlines during the national crisis surrounding the usage of the word “Allah” when he took a different stance from the states in the peninsula by promising to never stop Christians from using the Arabic term for God.

Results of the Merdeka Center survey, conducted to gauge voters’ perceptions of current developments in Sarawak, especially in view of the impending state elections, provide a breath of relief for the state government.

The majority of the respondents were generally satisfied with the basic amenities provided by the state government (66%), the education quality (65%) and the environmental protection (64%).

Also asked of the voters were their thoughts on provision of welfare aid to the poor and needy, with 55% of the respondents saying it was satisfactory.

On the control of crime and public safety, 52% expressed satisfaction.

Similar results were recorded for the management of the state’s economy as well as the protection of Sarawak’s autonomy.

The areas which Sarawakians were unhappy with include the provision of reliable and quality public transport (51%), the creation of job opportunities for locals (53%), the protection of native customary rights’ land (46%) and the eradication of corruption in the public sector (46%).