The Malaysian Insight

MORE than half of Malaysian Facebook users said they are in favour of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail leading the country if it means ousting Prime Minister Najib Razak and the Barisan Nasional government. 

The Malaysian Insight held a Facebook poll yesterday asking users if they agreed with Pakatan Harapan’s proposed leaders if they win Putrajaya in the 14th general election. 

After a 24-hour polling period, as many as 1,517 people voted. Of the total, 872 (57%) users said “yes” while 645 (43%) said “no”. 

A similar poll was held on Twitter where 107 people (48%) voted for the Dr Mahathir-Wan Azizah pairing as opposed to 115 (52%) who didn’t during the six-hour voting window.

Facebook users who voted for the Pakatan pairing seemed desperate to replace the current leadership. One user, Muhammad Iszam, said he would even vote for a cockroach if it meant changing the prime minister.

“Yes, even if you put a cockroach, I will vote for it. Najib must go,” he wrote in the comments section of the poll. 

Similarly, Sharifah Eedurah Al-Qudsie supported Wan Azizah in the hopes of removing the current leaders. 

“I say yes to Wan Azizah as long as Najib and the geng (are) out,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, Tamil Arasan agreed with Pakatan’s strategy, saying, “For political strategy, I’m saying YES.” 

Those who disagreed felt that the older generation should step back and take on a more advisory role, making way for new faces, such as Mohamed Azmin Ali or Rafizi Ramli. 

“No. Be an elder and set the stage for the next batch now,” said Ndrew Teng. 

Shawn Tan wanted someone younger and up to date.

“Please give me someone who knows how to use computers,” he wrote, measuring age against technological skill.

User Florence Yau preferred a leader among the people rather than the privileged class.

“No to Tun Dr M. I want someone who isn’t from a privileged family. Spoiled brats ruling a country will lead it to the dumps… Like now,” she said. – December 5, 2017.