TOKYO, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet has plummeted to 26 percent after the gift scandal, down significantly from 40 percent in the previous February poll, local media reported.

According to a nationwide telephone survey conducted by Asahi Shimbun over the weekend, the cabinet's disapproval rating rose to 59 percent from 44 percent.

The data has marked the lowest approval rating since the cabinet was formed in October last year as the controversy surrounding the distribution of gift certificates worth 100,000 yen (about 673 U.S. dollars) each to 15 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers from Ishiba's office has sparked a public backlash.

The Asahi Shimbun reported last Thursday that Ishiba had dinner with 15 rookie lawmakers at the prime minister's official residence on March 3, but hours before the gathering, Ishiba's staff delivered vouchers to the office of each of the first-term members.

The newly elected lawmakers later returned the vouchers, Kyodo News reported, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.

A total of 75 percent of respondents viewed the incident as problematic, far exceeding the 23 percent who did not see it as an issue.

Despite the scandal, when asked whether the prime minister should resign, 60 percent of respondents said it was "not necessary," while 32 percent believed he should step down.

Speaking to reporters last Friday, Ishiba apologized but reiterated that the vouchers were paid out of his own pocket and were intended as tokens of appreciation, not donations, for the families of the lawmakers. Enditem

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