The latest approval rating for the government marks a 10% improvement from the 40% scored in June last year.
In December of last year, Anwar’s approval rating stood at 54%, while in June 2024 it was 43%.
Merdeka Center’s latest report, released to mark the midpoint of the Madani administration’s five-year term, said Malaysians are beginning to feel the country is on a more stable footing following a period of political instability.
“Malaysians are beginning to feel the country is finally on firmer ground, with political turbulence easing and Anwar now leading a government with a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
“Institutional reforms like the revived Parliamentary Services Act 2025 also signal a return to principled governance,” the report, based on a survey carried out in May, said.
It also said economic factors played a key role.
Inflation eased to a three-year low of 1.4% in March, while gross domestic product grew by 4.4% in the first quarter.
The report said the government’s move to raise the minimum wage to RM1,700, provide festive cash aid to civil servants, and maintain fuel subsidies appear to have eased public anxiety over the rising cost of living.
However, the survey noted that Malaysians remain most concerned about everyday economic issues.
“Bread-and-butter issues – not foreign policy or speeches – still move the Malaysian public the most,” Merdeka Center said.
While Anwar’s international engagements, including hosting Chinese president Xi Jinping and chairing Asean, have raised Malaysia’s diplomatic profile, they have had less impact on voter sentiment than domestic issues.
Dissatisfaction towards the federal government stands at 48% compared to 58% a year ago, although concerns linger over possible subsidy cuts in the near future.
On the country’s direction, 43% of those surveyed said Malaysia is heading the right way, an improvement from 29% in June 2024.
Meanwhile, 50% still believe it is going in the wrong direction, down from 61% a year earlier.
The poll was conducted from May 12 to 23 with 1,208 registered voters.
The respondents were selected through random stratified sampling across age, ethnicity, gender and state constituencies.