Survey finds Malays willing to accept Guan Eng as finance minister

A group of Malay Muslims surveyed by independent researcher Ilham Centre admitted that they were willing to accept Lim Guan Eng as finance minister of the new Pakatan Harapan government.

However, they were not willing to accept Tommy Thomas (photo above, right) as attorney-general or Richard Malanjum as chief justice, said Ilham researcher Yusri Ibrahim.

Presenting his findings at Penang Institute's forum on 'Malay Muslims in Transition: Where are they heading?' held in George Town last night, Yusri said the respondents were willing to accept Lim due to his past record as Penang chief minister from 2008 to 2018.

The DAP secretary-general was appointed finance minister by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad after Pakatan Harapan seized Putrajaya from BN at the May 9 national polls last year.

"They were unwilling to accept Thomas and Malanjum (photo above) as they felt that if the two top positions of the country were filled by non-Malays, it can affect legal issues which involve Islam," Yusri told the forum.

"The group disagreed with non-Malays holding the three top posts as they felt these appointments threatened the position of Islam and Malay special rights.

" They questioned why these strategic positions were not filled by Malay Muslims, " Yusri said.

He added that the findings came from the older respondents in the central, north, south, and east coast of the Peninsula, while a group of youths from the east coast also shared a similar view.

"There are some respondents who accepted all three in their posts as they felt Lim, Thomas and Richard had the merits and qualification.

" This group came from the east coast, and Sabah and Sarawak" Yusri saiid.

Ilham, which is based in Kuala Lumpur, conducted a one-month survey in six regions of the country including Sabah and Sarawak to gauge the Malay Muslim's narrative amid the country's transition from BN to Pakatan Harapan's rule post-GE14.

The 125 respondents came from 18 focus groups involving youths (below 30 years old), men and women of all ages.

Also based on Ilham's findings, Yusri said Harapan had only managed to garner an average of 26 percent of Malay Muslim votes in the recent general election, while the rest were captured by Umno and PAS, which maintained its grip on Kelantan and seized Terengganu from BN.

Yusri said only nine percent of Malay Muslims voted for Harapan in Kelantan, while Terengganu (7 percent), Kedah (25 percent), Pahang (15 percent), Perak (22 percent), Perlis (29 percent), Penang (29 percent), Selangor (39 percent), Kuala Lumpur (38 percent) and Malacca (29 percent).

"With massive support from non-Malays, Harapan seized the federal government from BN, and there was a change in the political landscape."

This resulted in more non-Malays in the current government, while there were more Malays in the opposition.

"When this happened, concerns arise as to the fate and future of the Malays, and their special rights under Harapan rule," said Yusri.

"Our respondents were worried whether the current government is capable of defending the rights and the economy of the Malay Muslims, and the position of the rulers, who head Islam in their respective states, " he added.

During their survey in Sarawak, Yusri said the Malay respondents raised concerns that if this trend continues, and Harapan seizes the state at the coming state elections, the Malay Melanaus would lose control and power.

On claims that Harapan has yet to fulfil promises in its manifesto, the respondents across the country were lenient on the new government, said Yusri.

"They were more liberal and were willing to give the goverent more time to fulfil its manifesto.

" This group is excited that their votes contributed to a new government as it has never happened before, not for 60 years, "he added.

However, Yusri pointed out that those who did not vote Harapan last May appeared to be more critical of the new government's delay in fulfilling promises.

Yusri said this group of Malay Muslims who come from all regions except the central region were "very emotional" when asked about Harapan's manifesto.

"Several harsh words were used to describe how they felt about the matter; they said they were given false promises, they were betrayed (dikencingkan), that Harapan was just like BN and some even said the new government is worst than BN," said Yusri.

At the forum last night, Penang Institute executive director Ooi Kee Beng gave the opening speech, while its research fellow Wong Chin Huat, ProjekMM editor Fathi Aris Omar, and Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya were panel speakers.

The forum was moderated by Penang Institute researcher Mohd Izzuddin Ramli. - Mkini