KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Malaysia has been ranked highly among Asian countries in an annual index study on democracy by London-based financial journal The Economist.
Although still grouped as a “flawed democracy” alongside the US and several major Western democracies, Malaysia emerged top among the 10 Southeast Asian nations with an overall score of 7.24 in the annual Democracy Index issued by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the Economist’s research division.
The Democracy Index 2021 report by the research and analysis division of The Economist Group ranked Malaysia higher than Timor Leste (7.06), Indonesia (6.71), the Philippines (6.62), Singapore (6.23), Thailand (6.04), Vietnam (2.94), Cambodia (2.90) and Myanmar (1.02).
Malaysia also ranked sixth in the Asia and Australasia region, and 39th globally.
According to data from 2006-2021, Malaysia’s score in 2021 showed much improvement from the previous year (7.19) and was the best for the country in the period.
The Democracy Index, which began in 2006, provides a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide in 165 independent states and two territories based on the ratings for 60 indicators grouped into five categories;
– electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture.
In the Democracy Index 2021, Malaysia scored 9.58 for electoral process and pluralism; the functioning of government (7.86), political participation (7.22), political culture (6.25), and civil liberties (5.29).
Norway leads the index globally with a 9.75 score, followed by New Zealand (9.37) and Finland (9.27) while North Korea (1.08), Myanmar (1.02), and Afghanistan (0.32) are at the bottom of the list.
“The results reflect the continuing negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on democracy and freedom around the world for a second successive year,” the report stated.
It further said that the pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented withdrawal of civil liberties among developed democracies and authoritarian regimes alike, among others by requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for participation in public life.
“Pluralism and competing alternatives are essential for a functioning democracy, but differences of opinion in the US have hardened into political sectarianism and institutional gridlock,” the survey added.
More Stories
Nation Recovers RM15.5 Billion Of Its Revenue, War Against Corruption And Cartels To Go On – Anwar
Budget 2026 Reflects Govt’s Commitment To Integrity, Curbing Leakages – Azam
Dewan Negara Passes Five Bills Including Legal Aid And Public Defence 2025