The issues of increasing cost of living, social issues crime rates and illegal immigrants are the issues that matters most to Malaysian voters, in polls conducted as a run-up to the much talked about upcoming XII General Elections, lurking around the corner.
These are issues that a survey, with proper methodological approached found deemed closer more to the hearts of the bigger segment of society, instead the more ‘sensational and juicy’ issues, by some morbid segment of the population who conveniently love to thread on and about.
The Star reported this:
Tuesday February 12, 2008
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN and FLORENCE A. SAMY
PETALING JAYA: The cost of living, social issues, the crime rate and illegal immigrants – these are the issues that matter most to Malaysian voters, according to a survey conducted ahead of the general election.
These bread and butter issues are the prime concern of voters now.
Even hot issues like politics ranked lower than economic factors and crime.
The survey revealed that 96% of respondents were concerned with the current economic situation such as the rising cost of consumer goods, while 88% said they were worried about the incidents of crime in the country.
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Dr Syed Arabi: ‘Certainly the Government is not passive about these issues’
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The opinion poll was commissioned by The Star and carried out by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). It involved 2,930 respondents and was conducted in 58 clusters in 12 states in the peninsula from Dec 8 to Dec 29 last year. The survey has a margin of error of less than 4%.
“Economic issues were considered important to Malaysians,” said the IIUM Dean of the Communications Department Prof Datuk Dr Syed Arabi Idid, who headed the survey.
“People are concerned over the rising prices of basic necessities and the high cost of living, especially with the looming global oil prices.
“Crime is also a worry to them,” he said yesterday.
However, Dr Syed Arabi said the Government did respond to these concerns.
He cited the National Price Council as one of the measures taken to tackle the rising prices of consumer items and cost of living. Under the price council, the Government announced recently that a national stockpile of essential goods like rice and cooking oil would be created to ensure that prices and supply remained stable at all times.
The price council, headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, will monitor, advise and oversee the government’s price policy, competitive market structures and the efficiency of subsidy schemes.
The price council is also aimed at preventing unfair and collusive trade practices affecting supply and prices of essential goods and services, and eventually softening the impact of rising prices on the cost of living.
“The prime minister himself has gone to the ground to initiate measures to beef up security, such as rehiring capable retired police officers,” said Dr Syed Arabi.
Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, announced recently that there would be a police station at every corner, and more than 3,000 more patrol cars and 4,000 motorcycles would be deployed to combat crime.
He also said that 60,000 police personnel would be recruited, while the police department would rent shoplots to set up the police stations.
A total of 1,756 respondents were aged between 21 and 35, 1,181 respondents polled were in the 36-50 age group, and 719 respondents were those above 51 years old.
The third main concern of the respondents was the influx of foreigners into the country, with 40% regarding it as a problem.
This was followed by other concerns on politics, unity, the environment, internal and external threats, road traffic problems and leadership.
Prof Dr Syed Arabi said 2% of respondents expressed concern over internal and external threats and considered the rising number of vehicles as a bane, while only 1% said leaders must be proven to be capable.
These are the issues that matters most to the more affluent Malaysians, as compared issues like the management and handling of cases with regards to interfaith issues, which something the narrow-minded politics the DAP love to thread.
Yesterday, the Government announced that 60,000 recently retired Police personnels would be re-employed on contract basis to address the issues of gross insufficient staffing issues that the Police Force faces, to combat crime and maintain order. More equipments like additional 3,000 patrol cars would also be induced in this fight against crime.
The same survey also found that the majority of Malaysians are against street and illegal demonstrations, contrary to popular bloggosphere believe that the more affluent Malaysians prefer this unlawful method to express their grievances, of late.
Therefore, its back to the bread and butter, cheese and crackers, again. There is not much room for sensationalising this.
Mukhriz will be a boon for Langkawi
UMNO Youth Exco Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir has been tipped to be the next BN candidate for Langkawi. This came after the incumbent, former Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary Dato’ Abu Bakar Taib is said to be stepping down, after serving four terms representing Langkawi.
Utusan has the story on this much talked about rumour:
This is The Star’s report on the same topic:
Some quarters within Langkawi UMNO lauded the idea of Mukhriz be the BN candidate for the island which mainstay economy is built around tourism industry. His father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad did a lot to develop Langkawi and exploited its most valuable asset, tourism, since the Government made the island the ‘retreat’ for the 1989 Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting.
Then in 1991, the bi-annually Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition was launched and within a few years, it became an important agenda within the civil and defense aerospace and maritime industry in the region. In 1996, the premier bicycle race in Asia, Le Tour De Langkawi was started and eventually drew a lot of attention, especially from European viewers. Then the Langkawi International Regatta. Now, Langkawi is a major yachting marina in this region.
Several five-star international hotel group is now operating in the beautiful island, which include Sheraton, Five Seasons, Mutiara, Berjaya and the elusive but highly exclusive, The Datai. So many local entrepreneurs have benefited from this explosive growth, which also saw Langkawi received a duty free haven status. The retail industry boomed then onwards.
Langkawi which was one time an agriculture based economy, especially fishery and small scale farming, was completely transformed and elevated.
Mukhriz has been hands-on in the tourism industry since 1990, when he started a sport diving tourism company. Later, he joined Reliance Pacific Bhd., the only listed travel agency in Bursa Malaysia. He is also involved in world class resorts such as Tanjong Jara, near Dungun, Terengganu and the Avillion resorts.
Mukhriz’s single largest contribution for the tourism industry of Malaysia is when he was given the task to promote Malaysia at a global level and came up with the “Malaysia, truly Asia” campaign for Tourism Malaysia. It has won several awards since and is the premier tourism campaign for the country, despite after seven years.
Mukhriz is amongst the few UMNO Youth Excos to be tipped seats within Kedah in the XII General Elections. Others include Dato’ Azimi Daim, Kulim and Putera UMNO Head Dato’ Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Baling. Another UMNI Youth Exco, Ahmad Ikmal Ismail has also been said to be pitted in Kuala Kedah. Kedah Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Mahadzir Khalid, who is also the State BN Liaison Chairman would announce the list of candidates on Thursday, 21 February 2008.
- Commentary
on February 18, 2008 at 09:14 Comments (3)