[PRESS RELEASE] - Malaysian Attitude Towards Equality

The findings from the study reveal:

• Inequality concern is high in Malaysia, public calls for more action
• Half of Malaysians still believe hard work pays off
• Middle generations’ in Malaysia lose faith in equal opportunit
• Physical disabilities  top inequality concerns, but mental health and neurodivergent also in focu
• Different generations see similar equality gap
• Government must lead, but media also key to chang
• Younger generations expect wider shared responsibility

Arun Menon, Managing Director, Ipsos Malaysia mentions:  
"Across 31 countries, half of people identify inequality as one of the most important problems facing their society. Malaysia is no exception with 6 in 10 identifying it as an important national issue and almost half say more must be done to address it, in line with global expectations for stronger action.
While many Malaysians still believe success comes from individual effort, Millennials and Gen X are more likely to feel structural barriers limit opportunities, a contrast to the optimism of Gen Z and Baby Boomers. Malaysians agree that people with disabilities face the most unequal treatment, but younger generations place more weight on mental health and neurodivergence, while older groups emphasize senior citizens and women.

Two-thirds of Malaysians expect government to lead, with media second ahead of employers and educators. Younger Malaysians call for wider responsibility, while older groups focus mainly on government. This strong expectation on government signals a clear mandate for ministries such as the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, together with NGOs and advocacy groups on disability and mental health, to step up and drive progress.

These findings underscore a generational divide in how equality is perceived and how responsibility should be shared. To maintain trust in opportunity, Malaysia must strengthen inclusion for disability, mental health and gender fairness, while ensuring responsibility is shared between government, media and civil society. Equality is not just a political demand; it is essential for Malaysia’s social cohesion and long-term prosperity."