Survey Reveals Divided Opinions on 3R Discussions in Malaysia
A recent survey conducted by advocacy group Projek Sama and pollster Invoke has shed light on the opinions of Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia regarding a blanket ban on 3R discussions (concerning race, religion, and royalty).
Methodology
The survey, which took place from October 1-28 with financial assistance from an unnamed funder, collected data from eight questions through calls to randomly generated phone numbers. The survey respondents were aged 18 and above, and the total number of respondents was 611.
Results
According to the survey, 36.62% of respondents agreed with a blanket ban on 3R discussions, even if they were civil and rational. Wong Chin Huat, founder of Projek Sama, noted that the approval rate for such a proposal stood at 40.52% for Malays, 26.50% for Chinese, and 34.28% for Indians. Meanwhile, 36.3% disagreed with the ban, while 27.09% were neutral.
Interestingly, the survey found that the percentage of Malaysians who supported the blanket ban was lower than those who supported a prohibition on hate speech in 3R discussions (60%) and those who agreed that the government should take stern action against violence regardless of its relation to 3R (71%).
What Malaysians Care About
According to Wong, the survey reveals that what Malaysians actually care about is action on violence, which can tear apart their social fabric and destroy their society. He emphasized that if Malaysians are trusted to be mature, they can discuss difficult issues in a civil, rational, and harmonious manner.
Respect for Islam and Multiculturalism
The survey also revealed that the majority of Malaysians in the peninsula feel that respect for both Islam and multiculturalism should go hand-in-hand. Wong noted that certain quarters in Malaysia view respect for both Islam and multiculturalism as only feasible "up to a certain extent", and that one has to take precedence over the other because of a perceived trade-off.
However, the survey found that 76% of respondents want respect for both Islam and multiculturalism to go hand-in-hand, while 16% want respect for Islam to take precedence over multiculturalism and 8% want to prioritize multiculturalism over Islam. Wong emphasized that respect for Islam and multiculturalism cannot be seen as a zero-sum game in Malaysia.
Conclusion
The survey highlights the divided opinions of Malaysians regarding a blanket ban on 3R discussions. While some may support such a ban, others are opposed to it, and a significant portion are neutral. The survey also reveals that what Malaysians care about is action on violence and respect for both Islam and multiculturalism.
FAQs
Q: What was the methodology of the survey?
A: The survey collected data from eight questions through calls to randomly generated phone numbers from October 1-28, with a total of 611 respondents aged 18 and above.
Q: What was the result of the survey regarding a blanket ban on 3R discussions?
A: 36.62% of respondents agreed with a blanket ban on 3R discussions, while 36.3% disagreed and 27.09% were neutral.
Q: What did the survey reveal about respect for Islam and multiculturalism?
A: The survey found that 76% of respondents want respect for both Islam and multiculturalism to go hand-in-hand, while 16% want respect for Islam to take precedence over multiculturalism and 8% want to prioritize multiculturalism over Islam.