Organised cybergroups likely behind rise in racial hate on social media

A SHARP increase in hate speech towards non-Malay groups and anti-Rohingya hate speech and disinformation on Malaysian social media platforms since mid-2026 shows clear signs of coordinated amplification by paid networks, engagement farmers, and cybertrooper-style operations rather than purely spontaneous public anger.

The latest wave began in late May after posts about hygiene problems linked to a Rohingya community's cattle slaughter during Eid al-Adha rapidly escalated into broader claims that the refugees were a drain on resources, a security threat, or demanding land and special rights.

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