Vodus study puts Anwar ahead of PM hopefuls with highest acceptance and first-choice support

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has topped a new national study by Vodus Research as the most acceptable and favoured candidate for the prime ministership, according to the Malaysia Prime Minister Candidate Study 2026. The study, conducted from August 18 to September 1, surveyed 1,482 Malaysian adults aged 18 and above, with Anwar recording the highest public acceptance, first-choice support, and net acceptance among the five prominent candidates.

Sixty-six percent of respondents said they would accept Anwar as prime minister, while 46 percent named him as their first choice, resulting in a net acceptance score of +19 percentage points, the highest among the candidates surveyed. Anwar was also the most widely recognized figure, with 93 percent familiarity among respondents aware of the candidates, with stronger support in East Malaysia, where 41 percent of respondents selected him as their top choice compared to 28 percent in Peninsular Malaysia.

Vodus Research founder Kelvin Goh emphasized that public assessments of potential national leaders encompass familiarity, favourability, acceptability, and first-choice support, with Anwar's stronger support in East Malaysia possibly linked to his administration's focus on Sabah and Sarawak.