The Malaysian Insight

ECONOMIC issues are more important for Malay-Muslims compared to institutional reforms, a survey by pollster Ilham Centre revealed.

“Malay-Muslims can accept reforms but it is not their main priority,” said the centre’s executive director Hisomuddin Bakar in an online press conference today.

“They see institutional reform in the context of economy and education and not as envisaged by others.”

Ilham Centre, which conducted a series of interviews and focus group discussions from April 7 to June 11, said it found that in the central and southern zones, younger voters and higher-income earners were more pro-reform than others.

The survey interviewed 1,262 people while 93 people were divided into 14 focus groups for discussions. The pollsters said the margin for error was 3.5%.

Other findings include:

• 65% of Malays believe they will lose power to non-Malays in the urban areas if there are local government elections

• 55% agreed automatic voter registration is a good move

• 52% disagreed the prime minister should be limited to two terms

• 57% disagreed voting age should be lowered from 21 to 18

• 56% agree Pota, Sosma and OSA should be repealed.

 The survey also found that the economy and education (32%) topped the list of priorities for Malay-Muslims followed by governance (27%), parliamentary matters (13%), judiciary matters (7%) and others (12%).

Hisomuddin said many Malay-Muslims did not see reforms as fundamental as they felt that most “reform” agendas are political in nature and that the issues had no bearing on their day-to-day affairs.

In summary, Ilham Centre said that Malay-Muslims were open to reform but it was not a main priority for them.

“Parties who want to push the reform agenda must take into account the sensitivities of Malays regarding the position of Islam and the monarchy and Malay rights, failing which it will be rejected,” said Hisomuddin.

“These parties must understand the values, culture, norms, psychology and demographics of Malay-Muslims to push a reform agenda.” – September 10, 2021.