By Yasmin Ramlan
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 25 — Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the Federal government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is currently very stable, refuting the recent Merdeka Centre’s survey on the Prime Minister’s one-year administration.
Speaking to the press, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president said internal political stability under Anwar’s premiership and the people’s support are among the contributing factors.
“Based on our (Keadilan’s) observation, Anwar’s Unity Government is in the most stable situation because of its internal political stability; the people’s support is status quo even if it slightly increased around one per cent to two per cent, but it bucks the trend.
“Going forward, looking at all the elements, the Unity Government is rock solid and the public support approval rating is rising,” he said at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.
Rafizi added that it is a normal situation worldwide where the head of government’s popularity, once they are appointed to the position, increases and indicates a slight decline after the administration’s mid-term.
“It is common, as the survey requires careful reading and understanding within the appropriate context.
“For those well-versed in global political dynamics, not just in Malaysia, it is expected that a new government taking over may experience a popularity decline during the mid-term,” he said.
Rafizi elaborated that for a more comprehensive understanding of the current situation, the survey should draw comparisons between the support garnered by the three prime ministers preceding Anwar — namely, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“I believe Merdeka Centre’s findings are not earth-shattering for the public in terms of their government perception,” he said.
Rafizi noted that Anwar’s approval rating, carried out by the Merdeka Centre, significantly surpasses the approval rating of the previous prime ministers, one year after Anwar assumed the role.
Reflecting on Anwar’s first-year performance, he suggests that Perikatan Nasional might struggle to sustain its previous momentum.
This can be attributed to internal conflicts within the coalition’s parties and persistent predictions of the government’s collapse for over a year, a scenario which has not materialised and could potentially lead to frustration among their own supporters.
On a separate issue, Rafizi said that in conjunction with the Keadilan Annual National Congress which kicks off today, the debate session might not be as controversial as in the past, but stressed the importance for Keadilan delegates to adapt themselves to this transition.
“The debates for the Women and Youth wings today may not be as heated and could be perceived as dull, but it is a transition our delegates must adapt to. In the past, our Keadilan congresses were typically intense and controversial.
“However, this shift is necessary as, being a major party in government, we must prioritise discussions on national, global, and people-centric issues,” he said.
