Introduction
In July 2014, dataSpring started offering partner’s panels through our own company panel platform, surveyon PARTNERS. We also offer our company’s Malaysian online research panels. In this article, we will share some tips in conducting online research in Malaysia.
Country Language
- Official: Malaysian
- Survey: Malaysian, English
English was historically the de facto administrative language, but Malay became the main language after 1969. Malaysian English, also known as Malaysian Standard English, is a form of English derived from British English. It is widely used in commerce, along with Manglish, which is a conversational form of English with heavy Malay, Chinese, and Tamil influences. The government discourages the use of non-standard Malaysian language but has no power to penalize improper Malay usage on advertisements.
Regions Covered
Malaysia is a federation composed of 13 states (Negeri) and 3 federal territories (Wilayah Persekutuan). The population is concentrated on Peninsular Malaysia, where 20 million out of approximately 28 million Malaysians live. Roughly 70 percent of the population is urban.
| State | Capital | Royal Capital |
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | Johor Bahru | Muar |
| Kedah Darul Aman | Alor Setar | Anak Bukit |
| Kelantan Darul Naim | Kota Bharu | Kota Bharu |
| Malacca | Malacca City | |
| Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus | Seremban | Seri Menanti |
| Pahang Darul Makmur | Kuantan | Pekan |
| Penang | George Town | |
| Perak Darul Ridzuan | Ipoh | Kuala Kangsar |
| Perlis Indera Kayangan | Kangar | Arau |
| Sabah | Kota Kinabalu | |
| Sarawak | Kuching | |
| Selangor Darul Ehsan | Shah Alam | Klang |
| Terengganu Darul Iman | Kuala Terengganu | Kuala Terengganu |
| Federal Territory | Capital |
| Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur |
| Labuan | Victoria |
| Putrajaya | Putrajaya |
Demographics and Ratio of Panel Composition
Compared to the population composition, the ratio of panels in the 40s to 50s age range is small, therefore it may be difficult to collect the data. Please kindly consult with us.
We recommend checking the feasibility of the survey in advance - using our FREE IR Check tool.
| % | est. pop.1 | Ratio of Panel Composition for dS panel |
| Male | 52.31% | 45.16% |
| Female | 47.69% | 54.84% |
| 13-19yo | 8.31% | 10.72% |
| 20-29yo | 17.88% | 46.67% |
| 30-39yo | 15.96% | 27.08% |
| 40-49yo | 13.29% | 11.24% |
| 50-59yo | 9.42% | 3.11% |
| 60yo+ | 11.29% | 1.17% |
1Reference website: https://www.mycensus.gov.my and https://pqi.stats.gov.my/searchBI.php
Income
When targeting or allocating by income, it is common to design the survey according to the SEC classification.
*SEC is the socioeconomic characteristic that consumer has, defined by variables such as income, educational background, occupation and so on. It is an abbreviation for Social Economic Characteristics. There are several definitions regarding SEC.
% Monthly Household Income
| Ratio of Panel Composition for dS panel | |
| Less than MYR 1,000 | 24.71% |
| MYR 1,000 - 2,999 | 21.55% |
| MYR 3,000 - 5,999 | 22.05% |
| MYR 6,000 - 8,999 | 9.44% |
| MYR 9,000 or higher | 7.77% |
| No Answer | 14.49% |
Local Pro Tip:
Malaysia is estimated to have over three million migrant workers, which is roughly 10 percent of the entire Malaysian population. According to the government's last census, the state of Sabah alone had nearly 25% of its 2.7 million population listed as illegal foreign workers. Sabah-based NGOs estimate that out of its three million foreign workers, two million are illegal immigrants.
Also, citizenship in the states of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo are distinct from citizenship in Peninsular Malaysia for immigration purposes. For identification of its citizens, every Malaysia 12 years old and up must carry a biometric smart chip identity card, known as MyKad, at all times.
Ethnic Composition of Our Panels
Malaysia is multiracial, with many different ethnic groups living in the country, including Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other indigenous Bumiputra ("son of the soil" in Malaysian) groups. This cultural diversity makes Malaysia a highly rich society, with diverse religions, foods, culture, and customs.
The demographic composition in the country is as follows.
| Ethnic group | Percentage |
| Malay | 50.1% |
| Chinese | 22.6% |
| Non-Malay Bumiputra groups | 11.8% |
| Indian | 6.7% |
| Other ethnic groups | 0.7% |
| Non-citiziens | 8.2% |
Precautions in Conducting Online Research
The following topics are considered taboo in Malaysia:
- Gambling
- Blasphemy and questioning of religion, Sharia law, or royalty
- LGBT issues
- Discrimination of ethnic and religious minorities
Final Words
Before conducting online or mobile surveys in Malaysia, it’s important to know its basic profile. For more in-depth information, talk to our Local Experts today!
Online research panels have become one of the most important tools of the modern market researcher, and it can yield valuable insights and results if used properly. To know more about online research panels, especially in the Asian region, check out our Understanding Online Research Panels page.
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