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KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's popularity hasslipped in recent months, an opinion poll showed on Friday, as helost support among ethnic Chinese and middle-class voters ahead ofa general elections that he could call within months. Najib is facing a dilemma over the timing of the election as hisNational Front coalition seeks to reverse a dismal showing fouryears ago that deprived it of its two-thirds majority in parliamentfor the first time. The 58-year-old leader has enjoyed high personal approval ratings,but analysts say it is unclear whether that will translate intoincreased support for his less popular UMNO party and its allies. Support for Najib slid to 65 percent in the May poll from 69percent in March, according to the Merdeka Center, the country'smost respected polling firm. The dip may add to speculation that Najib may choose to delayelections until after presenting the budget on September 28. "The small gain in Malay voter satisfaction towards the PM appearsto have been outweighed by the large negative swing among Chinesevoters," Merdeka Center said in a statement. The poll found that approval for Najib was weakest among ethnicChinese, tumbling 19 percentage points to 37 percent and amongthose in the middle income bracket, falling 18 percentage points to50 percent. His popularity among ethnic Malays, who form themajority of Malaysia's population, rose 5 percentage points to 79percent. Voters' views on the government remained lukewarm, with approvalstaying unchanged at 48 percent. The survey was carried out between May 10 and May 18 among 1,019registered voters to gauge sentiment after an anti-governmentprotest in April. Najib's popularity has been lifted by giveaways to lower-incomehouseholds and reforms to repressive security laws. He announcedMalaysia's first national minimum wage at the end of April inanother boost for poorer voters. He has faced a tougher struggle winning over middle class voters,however. At least 25,000 demonstrators rallied in Kuala Lumpur inApril to demand reforms to an electoral system they say favors theruling coalition. The protest ended in chaos after police fired teargas and watercannon to disperse crowds. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim wascharged in May for defying a court order related to the protest andcould be disqualified from parliament if convicted. A separate Merdeka Centre poll after the protest showed that 92percent of Malaysians want shortcomings in the country's electoralrolls to be fixed before the election. That survey also found thatonly 44 percent of respondents were confident of a free and fairelection process. (Reporting By Siva Sithraputhran; Editing by Stuart Grudgings and Robert Birsel ) (This story was corrected to fix percentage fall in 7th paragraphto 19 from 21). We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Forged Steel Rings Manufacturer , Plastic Mold Steel Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits 1.2738 Steel.
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