(The Malaysian Insider) - Just over half the Malaysian public trusts the government, with only about a quarter crediting the administration with effectively managing the country’s finances and for transparency and openness, according to a survey by one of the world’s largest public relations firms.
Edelman’s 2012 Trust Barometer findings released today found that while 52 per cent of 1,000 respondents polled trusted the government, only 35 per cent consider government officials and regulators to be credible.
But Edelman Asia-Pacific chief executive David Brain said at the launch event that despite statistics “looking dreadful... Malaysia still ranks ninth among 25 countries for trust in government.”
According to the online survey, the average level of trust in governments globally was 38 per cent.
The survey, which ran from October 10 to November 30 last year, also found that “informed publics” (200 respondents in the top 25 per cent earners with degrees and high consumption of media) in Malaysia were less trusting of the government.
Within this segment, only 49 per cent believed the government and 32 per cent said government officials were credible.
The study also found that while over 70 per cent of those surveyed said effectively managing the country’s finances and being transparent and open were important to building trust in the government, only a quarter said the government had performed well in these areas.
