Thursday, March 12, 2009

SURVEY RESULTS 'NOT ACCURATE'

KUALA LUMPUR: Various factors should be taken into consideration in concluding how popular a candidate is in the run-up to the Umno elections on March 26, a university professor and keen Umno watcher said.

Prof Dr Ahmad Atory Hussein, a lecturer at the public administration and law faculty of Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang, said what was also important was the number of people interviewed for a survey and whom they represented.

"Different sectors of respondents would have different perceptions and views. It is most important to take into account who the people interviewed are for the purpose of the survey."

He was asked to respond to a survey conducted last month by Prof Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah's Zentrum Future Studies Malaysia of Universiti Malaya.The survey, involving some 2,030 respondents including 163 Umno delegates, showed that there had been a drastic change in the pole position in the impending Umno election since nominations were last tallied.

It showed that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who secured about twice the number of nominations of his competitors for the deputy president's post, was lagging behind his closest rival, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. Muhyiddin had the support of 35 per cent of respondents compared with 54 per cent for Ali. Another candidate, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, remained in third place with 11 per cent of the votes.

Ahmad Atory said the survey was unfair and not well represented.He said more than 2,700 delegates would be involved in the Umno election while the survey only involved 163 delegates.
-nst

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