KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Malaysians perceive climate change and international economic instability as top global threats that are more concerning than the Islamic State (IS), a survey has shown despite news of planned attacks by the Islamic militant group in Kuala Lumpur.
The survey by Washington-based pollster Pew Research Center, which was conducted in 40 countries from March 25 to May 27 this year, showed about a third, or 37 per cent, of Malaysians concerned about global climate change and global economic instability, compared to just one out of five people, or 21 per cent, who worried about the IS.
Pew Research Center’s survey, which focused on those who said they were “very concerned” about each issue, also revealed that just one out of five Malaysians (20 per cent) expressed anxiety about cyber-attacks, followed by territorial disputes with China (12 per cent), Iran’s nuclear programme (11 per cent), and tensions with Russia (9 per cent).
Neighbouring Indonesia, in contrast, perceived IS as a top concern at 65 per cent.
Malaysians’ seeming apathy towards China comes despite Chinese expansion in the South China Sea that has worried the Philippines, especially, though Putrajaya has refrained from taking a more confrontational stand against Beijing.
Malaysians’ apparent lack of concern about IS is also somewhat strange, considering previous police arrests earlier this year of those linked to the militant group who allegedly planned terrorist attacks in the capital city. Bomb-making materials were also seized last April.
Bukit Aman’s counter-terrorism director Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin said last April that IS attacks in Malaysia were imminent, noting that Malaysian members of the Islamic terror group have threatened to bomb entertainment spots as part of their plan to “punish” Malaysia for being an “apostate” country.
There were 154 Malaysian members of IS as of May 7, according to the Home Ministry in a parliamentary reply last May.
