DESPITE losing its first ever election, Barisan Nasional remains the most popular choice among the poorest constituencies in Malaysia.

Statistics shows that some 40% out of 79 parliamentary seats that Barisan had won in the recent general election are of the lowest median household income quartile – the poorest 25% of constituencies.

Based on 2016 median income data released by the Department of Statistics, those in the lowest quartile, including seats such as Bagan Datuk, Mersing and Baling, have median household incomes between RM2,208 and RM3,612.

Most of these seats lie in rural areas.

In contrast, Pakatan Harapan parties managed to win only 13 seats in the same quartile.

However, they were the most well-received among the richest constituencies, winning 47 out of 54 seats in the highest income quartile – the richest 25% of constituencies. Barisan had only won seven.

Voters in these seats have median household incomes between RM5,371 and RM9,073. These constituencies include Bukit Bendera, Jelutong, Pandan, and Petaling Jaya.

According to Fui K. Soong, the CEO of think tank Centre for Strategic Engagement, the data is consistent with their research.

Higher income groups tend to vote for the Opposition, she notes.

Higher income voters have had their basic needs fulfilled and as such, they are able to vote according to their ideals, Fui explains.

“They seek greater gratification at a more intellectual level after their basic needs are satisfied.

Academics call it post-materialism.”

Professor Dr Edmund Terence Gomez ascribes the difference in voting behaviour to social class instead of income level.

Dr Gomez, who is a Professor of Political Economy at Universiti Malaya, points out that the data shows middle-class electorates largely voting for a change in government.

He explains Malaysia’s recent political developments using the modernisation theory, in which social scientists have documented a rise in democracy in many countries following economic progress and the emergence of an educated middle class.

“What is not disputed is the fact that the educated, urban, middle class is usually the harbinger of change or will at least protest authoritarian rule.

“This has been manifested most clearly in the general elections since 2008,” he says.

Barisan’s results began to worsen starting from 2008 following its most successful election in 2004 under former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s leadership.

It secured 198 out of 218 parliamentary seats during the 2004 General Election but lost 58 seats in 2008.

2013 was worse for Barisan, having lost the popular vote and managing to scrape only 133 out of 222 parliamentary seats.

The 2013 and 2018’s results show that Barisan had lost support across all four income quartiles but remained the most popular in the lowest quartile.

In the subsequent weeks following its defeat in the recent general election, most of the 13 component parties in Barisan have left the coalition. Only Umno, MCA, and MIC – the original parties which formed the Alliance Party – remained.