Trust in Malaysian institutions higher than APAC average: Survey

Despite a year of social and economic uncertainties sparked by COVID-19, trust in all Malaysian institutions – government, business, media, and NGOs – has increased as a result of an assertive response to the pandemic, with the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer revealing that Malaysia’s Trust Index was higher than the APAC and global averages.

Why it matters

At a time when Malaysians’ trust in institutions is crucial for the recovery of the country’s public health and economy, the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer has highlighted that trust is built on fragile foundations, with empathy and information transparency needed to rebuild it. The report finds that the biggest opportunity to earn trust is to play a pivotal role in guarding information quality.

Four findings

• Malaysia’s Trust Index score of 66 points is up six points from 2020 and the country has climbed two spots to seventh on the Global Trust Index ranking.
• Malaysia’s Trust Index was higher than the averages for APAC (62 points) and Global (56), propelled by affirmative institutional action in managing the pandemic. 
• When asked to identify their most trusted source of information, the majority of Malaysians surveyed (66%) named “my employer”.
• Improving the healthcare system and addressing poverty have become more important, suggesting that the most foundational building blocks of society need a reset. 

Sourced from Edelman