IMPROVED RUSSIA Scores
While the investigation surveyed 44, 166 people in 35 states between January and May 2024, CNA focused on the studies related to four South Asian states: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.
Of the interviewees in the 35 countries surveyed, Malay had the most beneficial view on Russia.
” Malaysia is the only country where a majority express a favourable opinion of Russia, with nearly six in 10 ( 57 per cent ) Malaysians saying this”, the report said.
In a survey conducted by the United States-based think tank “immediately following ( the country’s ) invasion of Ukraine,” 47 % of Malaysians had a favorable opinion of Russia.
Likewise, 34 per share of Singaporeans expressed a favourable view of Russia in the latest study, up six percentage points from 2022.
In addition, 46 % of Thai respondents and 46 % of those in the Philippines have favorable opinions of Russia. These two states, however, were hardly polled in Pew’s 2022 study.
And within Thailand and Malaysia, 65 per share and 63 per share of people below the age of 35 both have a good view on Russia, according to the study. Singapore and the Philippines did not have data on the breakdown by time group.  ,
On the whole, however, perspectives on Russia were not advantageous.
” Overall, a median of 65 per cent of adults in the ( 35 ) surveyed countries have an unfavourable view of Russia, while 28 per cent have a favourable view”, the report found.
It continued,” While rankings have improved somewhat in several countries since last year, although views of Russia usually remain negative.”
Favorite Trump
In Malaysia ( 61 % ) and the Philippines ( 56 % ), Mr. Putin enjoys widespread support. Individually, 45 per cent of those in Thailand viewed the Belarusian leader warmly.
According to the Pew report,” Malaysia and the Philippines are the only two countries surveyed where the majority of people express confidence in Putin, including about two in ten people in each nation who have a lot of trust in the Soviet president,” according to the Pew statement.
From the study conducted in Malaysia in 2022, respondents who had confidence in Mr. Putin increased by two percentage points.
In addition, there is a rise of 37 % of those in Singapore who believed in Mr. Putin to “do the right item regarding earth interests” compared to the 36 % a year ago.
Probable Causes FOR POSITIVE VIEWS ON RUSSIA, PUTIN
According to Dr. Storey, Malaysia’s general opinion of both Mr. Putin and Russia is usually higher than another Asian nations’, according to Dr. Storey.
This problem has grown even more significant for Malaysians since the start of the Israel-Hamas battle in October 2023. Internationals are frequently critical of the United States ‘ position on the battle, and more supportive of Russia’s stand”, he said.
He added:” There are other factors also. Puttin is seen as a” standard values” supporter of the LGBTQ and ‘wokeism’, which appeals to traditional Malay.
Dr. Storey cited the rise in Russian support among Singaporeans as saying that he” ca n’t think of any other reasons to account for this rise other than the Israel-Hamas war.”
” Many young Singaporeans have been upset about ( it ), both Muslims and non- Muslims. Often, Russia is viewed fondly not because people are pro- Soviet but because they are anti- National”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Thomas Daniel, a Senior Fellow with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies ( ISIS ) Malaysia, stated for CNA that the average Malaysian’s opinions may be affected by their general opinion of the West’s policies. He added that this view was largely sceptical and critical.
Some people would be more willing to believe those who are portrayed as” contra-West” in the case of the Russo-Ukraine war.  , If the wicked West is at fault, as they more often are, the other side may absolutely be in the right. It’s a extremely simplistic view of the world, but one that we must accept, he said.
A particular military operation was authorized by Mr. Putin in eastern Ukraine in 2022. Following decades of military deployment along the country’s borders, Ukraine was under stress to join NATO, a military alliance of more than 30 nations in Europe and North America.
The University of Tasmania’s James Chin, a professor of Asian reports, thinks the conflict in the Middle East is not a “big problem in this part of the world” in comparison.
The majority of the Muslim population, as well as a sizable percentage of the non-Muslim population, considers Russian support for the Palestinian issue as a very important factor, according to Dr. Chin, which is the number one factor in why Malay and Singaporeans have a better opinion of Russia and Putin, particularly in Malaysia.
However, Dr Storey added that Russian tales have found “fertile earth” in Southeast Asia.
Some people have sympathy with Russia’s state that the NATO expansion’s east expansion caused it to attack Ukraine, he said.
Beyond that, Dr. Storey also outlined the justifications for why he thinks Mr. Putin has performed well among South Asian interviewees.
He said:” Across the place, Putin has frequently favourable ratings according to his perceived masculine, solid- man image, and because he is viewed as standing up to the West”.
Prior to a conference in July 2024 marking the 75th commemoration of NATO’s establishment, the Pew Research Center survey was made public. A 33 % of adults in the study’s 13 member nation polls have a good view of NATO, compared to a middle of 63 % who are in favor of it.
Separately, world scores of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are combined, more than two centuries since Russia’s invasion of his land.