DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called for stronger intellectual and moral safeguards to counter the growing impact of misinformation and emotional manipulation in the digital age, warning that society risks becoming overwhelmed by information while losing its capacity for wisdom and sound judgment.
Speaking at the opening of the Fourth Southeast Asian Ulama Conference, Zahid said the rapid expansion of social media platforms and digital communication channels has transformed the way information is consumed, creating unprecedented challenges for individuals seeking to distinguish fact from falsehood.
He cautioned that young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of unchecked information flows, with digital content increasingly shaping perceptions, values and behaviour in ways that may undermine critical thinking and moral development.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the challenge facing society today is no longer simply access to information, but the ability to evaluate, interpret and apply that information responsibly.
Addressing religious scholars, academics and policymakers attending the conference, Zahid stressed that the issue has evolved beyond an individual concern and now represents a broader challenge to social cohesion, national identity and character formation.
"We now live in a glut of information, but often suffer from a poverty of wisdom. Data increases, but wisdom recedes. Without intervention from true scholars, I worry that the minds of our generation will continue to be shaped by information without wisdom, and their character eroded by a borderless culture driven solely by emotion," he said.
The conference, jointly organised by the World Muslim League and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, served as a platform for discussions on the role of religious scholarship in addressing contemporary social and technological challenges.
Zahid argued that scholars, educators and religious institutions have an increasingly important responsibility in helping the public navigate an information environment saturated with competing narratives, misinformation and emotionally charged content.
According to him, guidance rooted in knowledge, ethics and intellectual discipline is essential to ensure that citizens are not easily influenced by misleading information or manipulated by narratives designed to provoke emotional rather than rational responses.
He emphasised that the preservation of social values requires more than technological solutions, calling instead for the revival of traditional principles such as civility, wisdom, critical reflection and responsible discourse.
The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted the need for sustained collaboration between educational institutions, religious authorities and community leaders to strengthen digital literacy and cultivate a culture of informed decision-making.
He said such efforts are crucial to ensuring that technological progress is accompanied by moral and intellectual development, particularly among younger generations growing up in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.
Zahid praised JAKIM and the World Muslim League for continuing to organise the annual conference, describing it as an important platform for strengthening intellectual resilience, ethical awareness and shared values across the region.
He expressed hope that the gathering would continue to serve as a catalyst for deeper engagement between scholars and policymakers in addressing the complex challenges posed by rapid technological and social change.
As concerns over misinformation, digital manipulation and online polarisation continue to grow worldwide, Zahid's remarks underscore increasing calls for a balanced approach that combines technological advancement with ethical guidance and critical thinking to safeguard the wellbeing of future generations. - June 13, 2026
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