US reputation in Malaysia hits record low as China surges, Ipsos survey finds

“KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — The United States has suffered its sharpest reputational decline in Malaysia since the onset of the Palestine crisis, according to a new Ipsos survey tracking global attitudes toward the US-Iran conflict. In the poll conducted between March 20 and April 3 this year, Malaysia recorded a 16-percentage-point drop in positive views of the United States, the steepest fall among the Southeast Asian nations surveyed. Only 34 per cent of Malaysians now view the US as having an overall positive influence on world affairs over the next decade. By contrast, China’s positive influence rating stands at 83 per cent in Malaysia — the highest of any country surveyed and up seven percentage points from October 2025. Iran’s reputation has also risen among Malaysians, gaining four percentage points to reach 50 per cent positive perception since October last year. Globally, the US recorded a seven-percentage-point decline in positive perception, while China posted a modest three-percentage-point gain. Indonesia mirrored Malaysia’s trend closely, with the US dropping 13 points and China commanding an 81 per cent positive rating there. The survey also found that most Malaysians do not expect the conflict to end anytime soon, with only 12 per cent believing it will conclude within a month. A further 32 per cent of Malaysian respondents believe the conflict will extend beyond next year, in line with the broader regional sentiment shared by Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. Ipsos Malaysia managing director Arun Menon noted that the decline in US positive influence in Malaysia and Indonesia has now surpassed the drop recorded at the start of the Palestine crisis. “This shifting geopolitical landscape is increasingly shaping how people perceive countries — and, by extension, the brands associated with them. “Businesses may face more discerning consumers, who are already inflation-wary,” he said in the study. The research firm advised companies to adopt a measured, locally sensitive communications approach that remains neutral and adaptable as public opinion continues to evolve. The findings underscore a broader realignment of global soft power across the developing world, with China and Iran both gaining ground at Washington’s expense. Ipsos surveyed 22,531 adults aged 16 to 74 across 31 countries for this study.

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