KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor received the highest approval rating among Malay voters in six states currently undergoing elections, independent pollster Merdeka Center’s survey showed.

In the survey, 77 per cent of the Malay voters in Kedah who were polled said they were satisfied with the way Sanusi performed his job as menteri besar, with the 18 per cent who expressed dissatisfaction being the lowest percentage out of all six states.

In terms of approval ratings among Malay voters in the respective states, the one with the second-highest ranking was caretaker Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar with 67 per cent of Malays in Terengganu polled satisfied with his performance.

This was followed by caretaker Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari at 63 per cent, caretaker Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (58 per cent), caretaker Kelantan menteri besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob (58 per cent) and caretaker Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow (55 per cent).

The approval ratings among Malay voters for the six state governments followed an almost similar pattern, with the Kedah state government receiving the highest satisfaction levels among Malays in Kedah at 73 per cent, Terengganu (71 per cent), Selangor (67 per cent), Penang (58 per cent), and Negeri Sembilan (55 per cent).

Malay voters in Kelantan were the least pleased with the Kelantan state government’s performance with only 51 per cent surveyed saying they were satisfied.

In the survey, Merdeka Center only interviewed Malay voters in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Penang, but interviewed those from all ethnicities in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

Based on its survey findings, 75 per cent of voters across all ethnicities in Selangor approved of the Selangor state government’s performance, while 61 per cent of such voters in Negeri Sembilan were satisfied with their state government’s performance.

As for approval ratings, Amirudin received a 66 per cent approval from voters from all ethnicities polled in Selangor, while 59 per cent of such voters in Negeri Sembilan approved of Aminuddin’s performance.

Merdeka Center carried out the survey from July 3 to August 11, ahead of voting day for the state elections tomorrow.

It interviewed 501 Malay voters in Kedah, 702 Malay voters in Penang, 501 Malay voters in Kelantan, and 504 Malay voters in Terengganu.

It also interviewed 1,005 voters in Negeri Sembilan (57 per cent Malay, 27 per cent Chinese, 16 per cent Indian), and 2,966 voters in Selangor (53 per cent Malay, 33 per cent Chinese, 15 per cent Indian).