Most M'sians Satisfied With Direction Of Country, State Of Economy - Pew Research

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah JOHOR BAHARU, May 4 (Bernama) -- In a survey conducted in March for a forthcoming US-based Pew Research Centre report, 82 per cent of Malaysians are satisfied with the way things are going in the country. The percentage was up from 76 per cent in 2007. Some 16 per cent said they were dissatisfied. "In 2007 the last time we asked this in Malaysia, 76 per cent were satisfied and 21 per cent dissatisfied, according to our 40-country survey," said Bruce Stokes, director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center. In terms of the economic situation of country, 85 per cent described Malaysia's economic situation good, up from 76 per cent in 2007. On priority for the government, 38 per cent hoped the government would look into rising prices, 14 per cent said lack of employment opportunities, gap between rich and poor (six per cent), public debt 13 per cent and all equally 28 per cent. “Only the Chinese (China) are more pleased than the Malaysians with the direction of their country and the state of their economy in the 40-country survey,” added Stokes. Pew Research Centre is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research and does not take policy positions. -- BERNAMA