Majority of Perak Voters Prefer Elections – Survey

Majority of Perak Voters Prefer Elections – Survey

BANGI – Following the collapse of the Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak, survey reveals that 74% of Perak voters feel that the state assembly should be dissolved to pave way for elections. The survey also found that 76% of voters felt that "the people, through elections" should decide on forming government. A further 62% of respondents felt that the role of the palace in this case "does not reflect the will of the people of Perak". The opinion poll was carried out by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research between 6th to 8th February 2009 to gauge voters' perceptions of current political developments in Perak. 507 registered Perak voters comprising 238 Malay, 211 Chinese and 60 Indian respondents were interviewed by telephone in the poll. Respondents were selected on the basis of random stratified sampling along ethnicity, gender and parliamentary constituency. The survey was funded internally by Merdeka Center for Opinion Research for release to the public.

 

Summary

 

- 74 per cent of the respondents feel that the state assembly should have been dissolved after the defection of the three Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers

- 76 per cent of the respondents felt that the 'people, through elections, should decide on who forms the government' - 62 per cent of the respondents felt that the 'role of the palace in this decision' means it does not recognise the will of the people - 66 per cent of the respondents do not accept state governments formed through the defection of state assemblymen - 59 per cent of the respondents feel that the political crisis in Perak would decrease support for Barisan Nasional.