A recent Pew Research Centre survey has found that almost half of Malaysians viewed Russia favourably and expressed confidence in its President Vladimir Putin, which foreign policy experts attribute to anti-Western sentiments and racial identity as the biggest reasons.

This is compared to other polled countries which did not express similar views.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Asean Youth Advocates Network (Ayan) Malaysia External Affairs director Danny Teh Zi Yee said there are...