RACIAL issues were widely used by politicians and political parties on social media posts during the previous general election, a study by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) revealed.

The study showed that 66,933 posts related to racial matters were uploaded on various online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok between the period of October 20 and November 26, 2022.

Other issues that were played up during the camping period were religion (24,484), royalty (14,320), gender and LGBT (7,596), refugees and migrants (3,819) but race based narratives topped the list.

Based on the study’s rating system, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s two posts reached Level 3 (dehumanising/hostile). 

He posted on how back in 2018, PH sought to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and the Rome Statute, indicating that there were demons (iblis) in Pakatan Harapan (PH), before branding them as communists sympathisers.

“Hadi had a significantly low number of social media posts compared to others but the PAS president managed to achieve a huge amount of traction on social media,” the study said.

“A post from Hadi where he claimed DAP was using Malay candidates to gain voter traction received a 2.5 million engagement count on TikTok, the highest across all social media platforms,” the research showed.

Anti-Chinese sentiments, Malay supremacy and the May 13 riot were key racial issues found on social media.

“There seemed to be a “well-coordinated and paid attempt” on social media to generate anti-DAP and anti-Chinese fear and hatred, especially on polling day,” it showed.

The study conducted by CIJ was supported by the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, and Universiti Malaysia Sabah to collect data through a social media monitoring project.

The study also showed that while religious issues came second, the topic became the main divisive and polarising tool during the election period.

“PAS dominated the narratives, followed by key opinion leaders such as ISMA’s Aminuddin Yahya. Significant spikes were seen in Hadi’s TikTok post on why PAS rejected PH, and the videos by singer Jamal Abdillah and actor Zul Huzaimi.”

“Islam was weaponised to fan Malay-Muslim insecurities. From messaging on sharia law, anti-LGBT, public morality and unfounded allegations against ‘Jews’ and Christians, these messages were amplified by key opinion leaders and celebrities.”

“Chief of which was a speech by Zul Huzaimi during a rally, stating that he harboured a wish to ‘slaughter infidels’ if it wasn’t for the law,” it said.

Attacks on the LGBT community, Christians and Jews were also used as a tool to discredit Pakatan Harapan, DAP and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The study quoted former prime minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin who alleged that a group of Jews and Christians were plotting for PH to rule Malaysia.

The analysis found that race-based narratives had the highest number of posts with high severity levels.

53 posts had been flagged as Level 3 (dehumanising or hostile), four Level 4 narratives (incitement or call for violence).

20,315 postings on religious issues were rated Level 1 (disagreement/non-offensive) while 3,545 others were Level 2 (offensive/discriminatory).

Eight Level 3 posts and two Level 4 posts related to religion were also recorded, according to the report.  – May 30, 2023.