Malaysians who believe that the country is heading on the wrong track are on the rise. Soon more Malaysians are likely to be pessimistic than optimistic about the country's direction.
Malaysia has shown a steady increase in happiness level from 2020 to 2023, and surpassed the global level in 2024, indicating a significant improvement in overall happiness among Malaysians. However, countries like Japan and South Korea showed a lower level of happiness, an indication of a diverse range of happiness around the world.
Our 31-country global study on gender equality shows that there is a divide in the perception and attitude toward the current progress of achieving equality among countries. While people across the globe generally accept leaders without much gender preference, about 4 out of 10 Malaysians would still prefer male leaders or bosses.
In 2024, more than 80 countries and half of the world's population will vote for their leaders and governments. Rising populism and anti-system sentiment will be significant determinants of their choices. Over the last few years, global citizens have encountered multiple political, economic, and societal challenges. This led to a growing sentiment of decline and disapproval of the establishment. In these periods of crisis, a common belief emerged that the system was unfair, favouring the rich and powerful and leaving the needs of average people overlooked.
Two years after Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysian doctors are still enjoying high levels of trust today. Malaysians continue to have high trust in teachers, scientists, and the armed forces. The list of most trusted professions in Malaysia remains unchanged in the last 2 years.
