Social media amplifies toxicity in Malay politics, says analyst

 

Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani says that before the advent of social media, it was common to see poison-pen letters being circulated, especially during Umno general assemblies.

PETALING JAYA: 

Toxic politics

 has always been a part of the Malay political landscape, an analyst said, although methods have evolved with the rise of technology.

Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani said before the advent of social media, it was common to find 

surat layang

 (poison-pen letters) being circulated, especially during Umno general assemblies.

He said, people now have easier access to information, and with it slanderous content, which social media has amplified.

The slander and toxic politics remain the same, but the methodology has evolved,

 he told FMT, adding that it was not so long ago that mosques and suraus in certain localities were dominated by particular political parties.

On Wednesday, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan lamented the 

death

 of mature, polite and thoughtful politics, which he said was based on the best ideas available across the Malay political landscape.

Tok Mat, as he is fondly known, said the Malay political scene has changed significantly over the years and has now turned toxic, filled with slander, insults and hatred.

Syaza Shukri of International Islamic University Malaysia, however, would not go so far as to say that mature politics had 

died

, but acknowledged that it has regressed.

Instead of discussing what needs to be done, politics has simply become a blame game,

 she said.

When did it start?

Syaza said toxic politics began to set in after the 2018 general election (GE14). She said the rise of the Pakatan Harapan government exposed the insecurities of Malay politicians.

So they started to use these toxic, populist tactics against PH. The people bought into it because it was easier compared to having complex conversations on policies,

 she said.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said it began to take root during GE14, with PAS’s campaigns relying heavily on issues surrounding race, royalty and religion (3R).

“Their modus operandi at the time was to focus on 3R issues, which allowed them to avoid discussing policies. Instead they relied on rhetoric, which appealed to the sentiments of one particular group – the Malay-Muslims.

He said GE14 was when rhetoric took over from policy. This style of campaigning helped PAS outperform Umno, consigning the once-dominant Malay party to a historic defeat.

Who is at fault?

Azmi said politicians began relying on rhetoric for political mileage as it spared them the need to 

do their homework

 on the real issues affecting the country.

The use of rhetoric at ceramahs endeared these politicians to the people, he said, even though their speeches were devoid of substance.

To campaign solely on policies, complete with data and statistics, would not have been quite as 

sexy

 or relatable, he added.

Azmi said for mature politics to return, the rakyat must hold politicians to a higher standard by asking them the 

hard questions

.

Syaza, said party leaders must show the necessary political will to eliminate toxicity and pursue a more mature discourse.

I believe Malay voters would love to hear about our politicians’ vision of the future instead of the mudslinging.

Asrul said MPs must be the 

gold standard

 for how politicians should behave. Political parties must move beyond race and religion to focus on bread-and-butter issues instead, he added.  - FMT