By Ida Nadirah Ibrahim
SHAH ALAM, April 9 — A majority 95 per cent of Malaysians say that they agree with the movement control order (MCO) measures enforced by the Federal government.
According to market research company Ipsos, the massive support for the move said that "it is the correct thing to do given the risks" of the Covid-19 outbreak.
"(The remaining) 5 per cent believes the order is excessive, an over-reaction, and would not solve the outbreak," Ipsos said in a statement today.
The study was generated via the Coronavirus Tracker Result between March 23 to 26, involving 1,000 Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above.
The findings of the survey showed a majority of the respondents have viewed that the government and its officials have effectively carried out the ongoing efforts to contain the coronavirus.
The study shows over 90 per cent perceived that the national health organisations, the Federal administration and the local or regional health authorities have rated good performance.
Meanwhile, only 37 per cent of the respondents, mainly those below 35-years-old, from the lower-income group and with lower education level, had felt that the media coverage on the Covid-19 outbreak had been exaggerated.
"Italy initially has the perception that the media was exaggerating but the perception dropped significantly the following week," said Ipsos, stating that the number had dropped to 29 per cent from 80 per cent.
Similar to Italians and Russians, some 68 per cent Malaysians are optimistic that life will return back to normal by June.
"Majority are from the lower-income segment and younger group," the survey showed.
Vietnam, China and India are among the top countries that showed high optimism (above 80 per cent) in returning to normalcy.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had today revealed that the nationwide compliance rate with the MCO has reached 97 per cent.
