Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been reminded of his dismal public approval rate compared to his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin, who enjoyed greater popularity with a passing mark.
This came after Ismail Sabri claimed that Muhyiddin, who is the chairperson of the National Recovery Council (NRC) and Perikatan Nasional, and Bersatu ministers are equally responsible as well for the country’s economic failure.
Marzuki Mohamad (above), Muhyiddin's former private secretary when the Bersatu president was prime minister, said he would show the mirror for both Ismail Sabri and Muhyiddin.
"When Muhyiddin said the prime minister failed to manage the economy and the country well, Shahril Hamdan, the economic director in the Prime Minister's Office told Muhyiddin to look at himself in the mirror.
"Well, let me show you the mirror. There are two mirrors. One for Muhyiddin and the other for the prime minister," he said in a social media posting today.
"The mirror is the leaders' public approval rate, a scientific study of public sentiment and is like a 'score' obtained by both leaders that determines if they pass or fail as a prime minister."
Citing a survey conducted by pollster Merdeka Center, he said 72 percent of respondents were happy with Muhyiddin's performance in May 2020.
Muhyiddin's approval rating was later dropped to 57 percent in June 2021 from 74 percent in July 2020. He stepped down as prime minister in August 2021.
"His average score throughout his tenure as prime minister was 67 percent. This is a good passing score. He passed as prime minister even though he led the country through the worst health crisis in history," said Marzuki.
"Muhyiddin was harassed by enemies within and outside who ambushed him day and night with the accusation of treason, failed government and white flag campaign," he added.
He said people from Umno were among the strongest ambushers while Pakatan Harapan also conspired in the move.
"But despite all odds - the pressure, insults and abuses - Muhyiddin obtained good passing marks from the people.
"This is the mirror of Muhyiddin," he said.
PM’s approval rate
He also noted that Ismail Sabri's approval rate dropped to 35 percent in August 2022 from 48 percent in October 2021 and his approval rating decreased consistently with an average of 45 percent.
"Without embarrassing him, a score below 50 percent means you fail. He has been getting failing marks consistently since the beginning of the year."
Therefore, Marzuki said it was not right for Ismail Sabri to say Muhyiddin equally fails as the NRC chairperson.
"It's not right. The NRC does not have any executive power to manage the economy and the country. It is merely an advisory council. The executive power to manage the economy and the country lies in the cabinet chaired by the prime minister.
"Ismail Sabri failed to score in his state of complacency. The number of Covid-19 cases is not as crazy as before, people's lives are back to normal, the economy and national borders are opened and politics is stable, except for the occasional dissident voices from the Umno's court cluster who want an election to be held right away," he said.
"Bersatu has never attacked the prime minister, let alone run a failed government campaign like how Umno party did against Muhyiddin in the past.
"The DAP, PKR and Amanah have a smoother relationship with the premier. They came to the prime minister's defence when he was attacked by the court cluster. In another word, Ismail Sabri can sit pretty as a prime minister. So, how did he score badly? I have no answer.
"To conclude, during Muhyiddin's era, there was a campaign to topple him by his political enemies, but the people rated him well. On the other hand, Ismail Sabri was given a failed mark by the people even though there was no campaign to oust him.
"This is the mirror that Shahril should look at," Marzuki said.
On Sept 19, Muhyiddin said Malaysians are struggling with the depreciating ringgit, rising inflation and post-pandemic economic woes and it is perhaps best for the election to take place if the economy cannot be better managed.
Hitting back at Muhyiddin, Ismail Sabri said if his government fails to manage the economy, the fault would be on Muhyiddin and ministers from the latter’s party too.
Shahril, who is also Umno information chief, urged Muhyiddin to look at himself in the mirror before hurling accusations at Ismail Sabri.
"There is still a lot to be done to help those impacted by Covid-19, but that's not a reason for anyone to hurl accusations. Muhyiddin needs to look at himself in the mirror when he was the prime minister, NRC chairperson and president of the party with a minister holding an economic portfolio," said Shahril. - Mkini
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