By Zaki Salleh
IPOH – Job opportunities have become the main concern among Perak residents, surpassing the rising cost of living, according to a study by the Perak Institute of Darul Ridzuan (IDR).
IDR Chief Executive Officer Dr Zulqarnain Mohamad said the findings indicate a shift in public priorities compared with last year’s survey.
He said the previous study found that the cost of living was the public’s main concern.
“We believe this change is due to various state government initiatives, including the Pasar Sejahtera Rakyat programme, which appears to have helped ease the burden of living costs.
The event was attended by approximately 30 media practitioners from various organisations.
The study was conducted in conjunction with the preparation of the Perak Budget 2027 to assess public views on the state’s needs and socioeconomic well-being.
IDR serves as a public policy and strategic think tank for the Perak state government, assisting in formulating the state’s socioeconomic development plans.
The institute conducts socioeconomic studies, analyses public policies and provides data-driven recommendations to the state government.
Elaborating further, Zulqarnain said the study also found that 66.4 percent of respondents considered their monthly income sufficient, while 58.7 per cent were able to set aside savings for emergencies.
In addition, public confidence in the state government’s ability to improve living standards recorded a score of 3.96 out of five.
Zulqarnain said the findings reflected a positive level of confidence in Perak’s socioeconomic prospects.
However, he stressed that this confidence must be accompanied by sustained efforts to expand job opportunities and increase household incomes.
