Belittling Malay states won't do PH any favours, says communications expert

A communications expert warns that the tendency of so-called cybertroopers linked to Pakatan Harapan (PH) to belittle Malay-majority states such as Kedah and Kelantan may backfire on the coalition, as social media campaigns ramp up ahead of the state elections next month. 

Both Kedah and Kelantan are under Perikatan Nasional rule, and are often the butt of jokes on the economy and lack of public facilities. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Shafizan Mohamed said that every party had its own group of cybertroopers or individuals tasked with spreading political propaganda on the internet. 

"Those from the PH camp tend to present themselves as intellectual and factual," she said. 

"Sometimes they show themselves as intellectually and morally superior because they talk about corruption. PH cytros, the way they write downgrade the Malay political will, and they always end up relating (problems) to the Malays." 

Shafizan, a professor at International Islamic University Malaysia's communications department, added that the trend of blaming the Malays for making the "wrong political choice" could be dangerous and would end up backfiring on PH. 

Kedah and Kelantan are among six states that will go to the polls on Aug 12. The others are Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu. 

Shafizan said PH was able to create and disseminate sentiments due to its strong online support base. 

Nevertheless, she recommended a change of strategy for the coalition. 

"PH can attract more liberal and urban Malays, but the majority are fundamentalists," she said. 

"They are educated, they know what they are doing, and they hold strongly to Malay ideals. I don't think they appreciate being downgraded and criticised." 

Fellow communications expert Abd Aziz Aizam meanwhile said that the enthusiasm of cybertroopers could have a negative effect if not managed with discipline. 

"Cybertroopers can become quite toxic in their operations," Aziz, of Universiti Teknologi Mara, said. 

"Their strategy of attacking opponents through threats, ridicule, defamation and fake news will actually push potential voters further away." 

On the other hand, he said, attempts to portray their group as the best by interacting positively with one another would also disrupt the actual perception of them. 

He added that their cybertroopers had in fact been the downfall of some parties.