Last week, the global communications marketing firm Edelman released its annual Trust Barometer. The survey revealed that trust is in crisis around the world. The general population’s trust in all four key institutions, namely business, government, NGOs, and the media, has declined broadly -- the first time it’s done so in five years. 

In this climate, the public’s societal and economic concerns can easily turn into fear, which could explain the rise of populism now playing out in several Western democracies.

Today on Current Affairs, BFM explores the current level of the Malaysian public’s trust towards these four crucial institutions. 

This is a report by Emir Zainul.