Malaysians are less trusting of their elected federal government now than in the past, because as the country develops, its people tend to become more matured citizens, and, well … smarter.
That was the opinion of UMNO Youth exco member Shahril Hamdan at the Edelman Trust Barometer Annual Global Study 2016 panel discussion in KL today, marking the second time in the past week someone from the ruling Malay party’s Youth wing has said something that’s been on everyone’s mind.
Shahril said that it was a natural consequence of national progress that citizens would grow more cynical of the government they elect into higher office, even when the country is performing well.
“As democracy matures, the cynicism level of people toward the government increases. Regardless of how the government communicates or performs, people will put less trust in government and its leaders,” he said.
“As people get more informed, people are more likely less trusting of authority figures, especially when it comes to the government, politicians and business leaders.”
Edelman Trust revealed earlier in the day that general public trust in Putrajaya had dropped by 7% from 46% in 2015 to 39% ths year. Among those who the poll referred to as “informed Malaysians”, the trust deficit grew even larger, with an 11% drop to 34% of respondents saying they trust the Federal Government.
Shahril sought to draw comparisons between Malaysia and Western nations with healthy democracies such as the United States and the UK, where public trust of government is notoriously low.
“Look at the US and UK, they (the people) also have a low trust of the government,” he said, as quoted by The Malay Mail Online‘s Kamles Kumar.
So … the more advanced we get, the less we’ll trust our government? Sure that’s not going to ruffle any sedition-scented feathers up in Putrajaya, guys?
