MalayMail-Jan 24
A study of 28 countries by global communications firm Edelman found that Malaysia was among the least polarized countries, along with neighbors Singapore and Indonesia. The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer, released during the World Economic Forum last week, showed that Malaysians polled felt their country is more divided than the two but also more optimistic that the division can be overcome. “We are in a period of huge systemic change in a multi-polar world, with divisive forces fanning economic grievance,” Dave Samson, its global vice-chairman of corporate affairs, said in an accompanying press release. “If neglected, the result will be increased levels of polarization, slowing economic growth, deeper discrimination, and an inherent inability to solve problems. CEOs, and the companies they lead, must play a central role in addressing these issues and in helping restore economic optimism.” The study measured the polarization of countries based on two factors: how divided respondents felt their country was on key societal issues, and how entrenched respondents felt these divisions were. Malaysia was categorized as “less polarized”, along with Singapore, Indonesia, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Countries designated as “severely polarized” were Colombia, the United States, South Africa, Spain and Sweden — with Argentina ranked as the most severe in both factors. Malaysia’s “polarization score” was 55 — together with Indonesia, this was the lowest among the 28 countries studied. “Severely polarized” country has a score of 130 and above. The study also found that 74 per cent of Malaysians wanted brands to use their power to create a shared identity for Malaysians. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/01/24/global-study-says-malaysia-among-least-polarised-nations-but-four-in-10-feel-country-more-divided-now/51633
