Survey finds low levels of public trust leading up to GE14

PETALING JAYA: A survey commissioned by the Centre For A Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) prior to the 14th General Election found that only 16% of respondents believe that politicians are trustworthy.
Its Co-President Gan Ping Sieu said 72% of the 1,000 respondents chose honesty as “one of the main attributes deemed important for a politician” and close behind was “dedication to serving the community and country” at 68%.
Gan said given the unfavourable public perception of politicians, they needed to step up their game.
Respondents were divided when it came to the courts. About 45% of respondents found the judicial system to be trustworthy, citing judges’ integrity as the main reason (55%) for their confidence.
In contrast, of those who found the courts to be untrustworthy, judges’ lack of integrity was their main concern (56%). Other notable comments include perceived lack of separation of powers between judiciary and Government i.e. political interference, control and influence by Government.

The survey also revealed that of the 62% respondents who found local authorities like municipal councils as “not trustworthy”, their pet peeve was “inefficient service” at 66% followed by perceived corruption at 47%.
Gan said when it comes to the media, the alternative online media enjoyed significantly higher trustworthiness at 31% compared with traditional print publications at 23%.
Sixty-four percent of those surveyed said the main reason they did not trust traditional mainstream media because “newspapers are not free to report without interference”.
He said 57% of respondents polled were of the opinion that online media published “unfair, inaccurate and fake news”.
Gan said 75% of respondents who trusted online news were impressed with its “freedom" to report without interference from external parties.