By Datuk Ismail Yusop
“In war, truth is the first casualty,” wrote the ancient Greek tragedian Aeschylus. Today, we no longer fight on battlefields with weapons, but in digital arenas with information — and disinformation has become the most dangerous psychological weapon of the modern era.
Disinformation — deliberately false content spread with malicious intent — has the power to erode public trust in government, fracture social cohesion, and jeopardise national security. In democratic societies, it is not the absence of votes that collapses systems, but the collapse of trust.
Global examples have laid bare the real and far-reaching consequences of disinformation. The 2016 United States presidential election was a watershed moment, where digital propaganda and manipulation of social media reportedly influenced millions of voters.
In the United Kingdom, the Brexit referendum was mired in misinformation, obscuring the real costs of leaving the European Union. In the Philippines, the digital machinery that shaped Rodrigo Duterte’s image elevated him as a people’s saviour, despite persistent controversy. And just last year in Japan, a newly formed political party managed to capture youth support through social media, even as many of its claims were later disproven.
This demonstrates that disinformation is not only capable of distorting facts — it can rewrite history.
For ordinary citizens, the threat of disinformation manifests in several troubling ways. First, it undermines public trust. When the public begins to suspect that *all* news may be fake, even the truth becomes suspect — a phenomenon that communication scholar Cass Sunstein described as the “spiral of silence”, where collective doubt drowns out facts.
Second, it weakens mainstream media. As social media platforms overtake the role of professional journalism, the voice of credible, fact-checked reporting becomes increasingly marginalised.
Third, it fuels social polarisation. Sensitive issues such as race and religion are manipulated to divide society into opposing camps.
To combat this escalating threat, Malaysia must adopt a comprehensive, whole-of-nation strategy. Several concrete measures could form the backbone of such a response.
Firstly, media literacy must become a shield for citizens. Education on identifying false information should be integrated into school curricula and community programmes. Citizens must be taught to think critically and question before believing or sharing.
Secondly, Malaysia needs a robust fact-checking ecosystem. A transparent and independent national fact-checking centre is essential. Collaboration between government, academia, media, and the private sector will be crucial — and artificial intelligence (AI) can be harnessed to detect fake content more efficiently.
Thirdly, digital platforms must be held accountable. Social media companies cannot be allowed to operate without responsibility. Influential accounts must be traceable, and false content must be removed swiftly. Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) offers a compelling example of how governments can enforce social responsibility on tech platforms.
Fourth, Malaysia must pursue a sovereign AI strategy. We cannot rely solely on foreign technology. The country needs to develop its own AI capabilities — particularly those equipped to detect disinformation in local languages — ensuring we are not passive users but active creators of digital defence tools.
Fifth, professional media must be supported. Politicians should refrain from indiscriminate attacks on mainstream journalism. Instead, public funds could be channelled into supporting independent, high-quality reporting that upholds integrity.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his recent address at Tianjin University in China, underscored the importance of writing a “new narrative” for the region — one that is fairer and more inclusive, penned with “Asian ink”.
His concept of “sovereignty in interdependence” is particularly relevant. It acknowledges that a nation can remain sovereign while remaining open to international cooperation — a perspective that may help restore public trust in institutions.
Ultimately, the fight against disinformation is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a collective endeavour. While policymakers craft strategy, the media must uphold integrity, academics must offer insight, tech firms must bear social responsibility, and citizens must strengthen their cognitive resilience.
Should we fail to act, Malaysia’s democracy could fall prey to fake news, digital slander, and algorithmic manipulation. But if we act together — with knowledge, courage, and solidarity — we can not only defend democracy but renew it.
Disinformation is a silent danger, but Malaysia still has time to respond — wisely, decisively, and united. - September 12, 2025
*Datuk Ismail Yusop is the director-general of the Community Communications Department (JKOM)
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