Anwar tops approval ratings in Merdeka Center poll

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has recorded the highest approval rating among Malaysian political leaders tested in the latest Merdeka Center survey, with 52% of respondents expressing satisfaction with his performance.

The national public opinion survey, conducted from March 12 to April 9 among 1,209 respondents, placed Anwar ahead of all six other leaders.

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was a close second with a 50% approval rating, followed by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin at 36%.

Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli recorded 32%, while Perikatan Nasional chairman and Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar registered 28%. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang garnered 25%.

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recorded the lowest approval rating at 24%, with 61% of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with his performance.

Economic concerns persist

Despite growing international uncertainties and economic challenges, 47% of respondents said Malaysia was heading the right way, unchanged from surveys conducted in December 2025 and February this year, while another 50% said the country was on the wrong track.

Merdeka Center said the findings nevertheless marked an improvement from mid-2025, when fewer than four in 10 Malaysians believed the country was moving in the right direction.

Among respondents who said the country was heading in the wrong direction, 53% cited economic factors, such as the state of the economy, the cost of living, and fuel prices.

Separately, 73% of respondents identified economic issues as the single biggest problem facing Malaysians.

Satisfaction with the government’s handling of the economy stood at 46%, against 51% who were dissatisfied, though Merdeka Center noted that dissatisfaction on this measure had declined significantly compared to the overall trend throughout 2025.

Overall satisfaction with the federal government was evenly split, with 50% satisfied and 48% dissatisfied.

Strong backing for institutional reforms

In the survey, overall support for limiting the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms or 10 years stood at 73%, while 84% backed separating the roles of attorney-general and public prosecutor.

Some 58% supported direct elections for the Kuala Lumpur mayor.