Public support for Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's Cabinet has fallen to 41 percent, down 4.6 percentage points from December, an indication of discontent over scandals involving government officials, according to a Kyodo News public opinion survey.

The disapproval rate for the Cabinet increased to 50.5 percent from 45.5 percent in the previous poll in December, overtaking the support rate in the survey for the first time since March 1999.

Kyodo News on Saturday and Sunday contacted 2,017 people aged 20 or above nationwide for the survey.

A lack of trust in Obuchi's economic policies topped the list of reasons for disapproval at 21.9 percent, up 2.2 points, followed by the three-way coalition among the Liberal Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and New Komeito at 20.6 percent.

The support rate for the LDP fell 4.6 percentage points to 32 percent, while the number of people who said they do not support any political party increased to 33.2 percent from 30.5 percent.

The decline in support may reflect public discontent over the scandals involving the Niigata Prefectural Police and former Financial Reconstruction Commission Chairman Michio Ochi.

The chief and a National Police Agency official sent in January to Niigata were found to have continued playing mah-jongg even after hearing about the rescue of a 19-year-old girl who had been confined in a local man's house for over nine years.

Ochi, a minister, resigned Feb. 25 after being sharply criticized for making remarks apparently indicating his willingness to help banks get more lenient audits.

Among people who support Obuchi's Cabinet, 48 percent said no other politicians were better suited for the job, while 20.3 percent expressed confidence in the prime minister.

Of the LDP supporters surveyed, 73 percent backed the Cabinet, down 5.3 points from the previous poll, compared with 62.3 percent of New Komeito supporters, up 13.7 points. Of the Liberal Party supporters, 40.9 percent supported the Cabinet, a decline of 7.7 points.