KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The top preferred trait for candidates going into the 15th general elections (GE15) are those with "good ideas” for the country, 27 per cent of respondents told Merdeka Center in its latest survey.

This was followed by those who feel that being clean and trustworthy, and free from corruption and power abuse must be the top criteria (24 per cent).

In comparison, most respondents only put being in touch with the public as the second most-preferred trait, with 22 per cent denoting so.

When it comes to the preferred characteristics of political parties, the majority wanted a party that can deliver development (22 per cent), followed by fair treatment of all races (20 per cent), and parties that uphold Islam (15 per cent).

The survey also predicted that voter turnout likelihood for GE15 was high across all ethnic lines, except for ethnic Chinese voters under the age of 30, with only 38 per cent saying they will turn up to vote.

Overall, 68 per cent of voters under the age of 30 said they will turn up to vote, with the likelihood of voting increasing with age as those between 31 and 50 were 74 per cent likely and voters above 50 being the most likely to vote (80 per cent).

Indian voters above 50 were the most likely to turn up to vote (97 per cent), but Merdeka Center said that this figure needs to be discounted by 25 to 30 per cent in its opinion, although it did not mention its reason for this.

Merdeka Center surveyed 1,209 respondents aged 18 and above via telephone from all states and constituencies, proportional to the population in each parliament constituency.

The survey was conducted from October 19 to 28.