Channelnewsasia seem to say otherwise:
Malaysian PM marks first 100 days in office
with improved ratings
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak marks
his first hundred days in office on Saturday, with a significant
improvement in approval ratings.
An independent poll by Merdeka Center showed his popularity has
shot up to 65 per cent in July, up from 42 per cent just before he
was sworn in about three months ago.
When the 55-year-old came into power in April, there was certainly
no honeymoon period traditionally accorded to a new prime
minister.
Not only was the economy sinking, allegations of corruption and
attempts to link him with the murder of a Mongolian model badly
tainted his image.
"Please judge me by my actions, my actions will come in due
course," he had said then.
After just 100 days in office, his political fortune is
reversing.
He got a big thumbs-up for releasing several high profile Hindu
rights activists, as well as approving measures to liberalise the
services and financial sectors, and chipping away at affirmative
action for ethnic Malays.
Abdullah Ahmad, former editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times
Press, said: "Overall, he's said all the right things. If he can
deliver what he said, he will be in a good stead, but will he be
able to do it?
"He has to contend with those groups who are unhappy with what he's
doing and PAS (Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party) is one of them. Malays
should be confused, we used to get 30 per cent and PAS will exploit
it."
However, his political rivals claim it is all a political
gimmick.
Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition parliamentary chief, said: "It's for
his own survival and for the survival of this country's economy.
It's not whether he wants it or not. Look at the latest figures
relating to the recessionary trend and foreign investments, which
is disastrous."
His critics say the state of the country's judiciary, its police
force, and high crime rate leaves much to be desired.
Still, many Malaysians are putting their trust in Mr Najib to
realise his goal of "1Malaysia" – a promise of more equal
opportunity for all, regardless of race and religion.
K K Ng, a Malaysian retiree, said: "I hope he'll do something good,
but he's got to make it quick, otherwise come next election, the
UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) and BN (Barisan
Nasional) government will fall into oblivion."
Still, how far can Prime Minister Najib go to shore up his support
before the next general election, which must be held by 2013?
Analysts say much will depend on the state of the country's
economy, which is expected to shrink as much as five per cent this
year.
- CNA/yb