PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak may have to concede to a live debate with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim if he wants to capture the hearts of young voters, particularly the Malays. A recent survey by Merdeka Centre found that 56% of 1,022 registered voters surveyed across Peninsular Malaysia supported the idea of live debates between the two leaders as a means to showcase their respective “ideas and policies to the nation”.
The survey, conducted last month, comprised 59% Malays, 32% Chinese and 9% Indians and was aimed at gauging their perceptions of current developments in the country.
A significant 67% of those in favour of live debates were below 30-years-old followed closely by the 31-40 and 41-50 age groups, both at 58%.
The survey findings also indicated that live debates would help fence-sitters make up their minds as 62% of voters are still undecided on where to cast their votes.
But the idea was given the thumbs down by 35% of respondents while 10% voiced their uncertainty.
Support was almost equal in strength in the urban and rural areas although 60% came from Pakatan Rakyat supporters compared to 48% of Barisan Nasional supporters.
The disparity of support was also noted in the three main ethnic groups with 66% of Chinese voters backing the idea followed by 54% of Malay voters and 34% of Indian voters.
The independent pollster meanwhile found that 76% of Malay voters supported the idea of regular live debates while 39% of Malay voters aged 60 and above deemed it unncessary and “not part of our culture”.
Economic issues
Merdeka Centre’s director, Suffian Ibrahim, had said in January that its focus group discussions with Malay professionals unveiled their keeness in seeing Najib and Anwar move beyond talking about personal issues to addressing national ones.
Among the topics that voters wanted to see debated are “economic issues” at 17%, “current national issues” at 9% and “welfare of the people” and “development of the country” at 7% , respectively. Only 5% were interested in a debate on “combating corruption”.
Anwar had issued his third challenge to Najib for a public debate over national policies during his winding-up speech at the Pakatan Rakyat convention in Alor Setar on Jan 14.
He said that an open debate would enable voters to decide for themselves if the opposition’s plans for the nation held merit following Barisan Nasional’s criticism that they were “populist and irresponsible”.
Najib however had declined by saying that political parties were more important than individuals but also stressed that he was ready to face the former in a presidential-style debate.
In January, Bernama quoted Najib as saying that he was not afraid to engage in a debate with Anwar but stressed that it would be only a waste of time as the latter had failed to deliver his electoral promises.
“I can debate him, I am not afraid, my ministers and I have all the information. Don’t try to challenge me, if I were to reveal everything, someone will end up with a fever,” said Najib.
Najib was today reported as saying that he was “happy to argue politics with any reasonable man or woman” but not with conspiracy theorists.
Malaysia’s first live debate took place on Feb 18 between MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng but was said to have lacked bite.
Stephanie Sta Maria and G Vinod
| March 5, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment