KUALA LUMPUR — Democracy is always fraught with fuss but social media is far more chaos. Viewed from almost every angle, one might assume that Malaysia is facing a prolonged crisis, even a failed state if social media were the only lens through which to assess its situation.
Judging by the endless posts, comments and viral videos, the picture presented seems bleak, that there is political, racial and religious chaos while the country seems to be on the verge of destruction.
This narrative is repeated so often that many have begun to accept it as truth. The campaign has become increasingly aggressive as political actors perceive that a general election is approaching.
Despite the chaos in the digital space, Malaysia today enjoys a high level of political stability, something that has long faded in recent years.
Malaysians tend to take the issue of political stability lightly. We forget that the country has lost precious time by witnessing three changes of Prime Minister (PM) in the span of one term between 2018 and 2022.
Whether we like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or not, we cannot deny that he has contributed to stability in the country’s political landscape.
Investors, both domestic and foreign, tend to value predictability while political stability has helped restore their confidence in the direction of Malaysia’s economy.
The international community now respects Malaysia more, with Anwar playing a prominent role on the global stage.
Let’s put aside the political issues for a moment, and let’s judge by the data. Malaysia has recorded the highest approved investment value in history, at RM426.7 billion in 2025, marking an 11 percent increase compared to 2024, and is expected to create over 244,000 new job opportunities.
Johor, on the other hand, recorded approved investments of RM110 billion in 2025, the highest ever recorded for a single state in Malaysian history.
This outstanding performance contributed to 25.77 percent of the total approved investments in Malaysia for the year.
Leading multinational companies continue to make Malaysia a base for high-tech manufacturing, data centers and technology supply chains.
From the electronics sector to green technology, the country is now actively involved in industries that are expected to be determinants of the next phase of global growth.
No serious investor is willing to invest billions of money in Malaysia if the country continues to be disrupted by political instability, PM changes and changing policies.
Bank Negara Malaysia’s international reserves reached USD128.3 billion as of 27 Feb 2026, the highest level since August 2014. Supported by a strengthening currency and gold accumulation, the country’s reserves increased for the 11th consecutive month.
These reserves are not just numbers, but rather reflect economic resilience, giving the country the ability to weather global uncertainties and financial shocks.
The ringgit recorded the best performance in Asia in early 2026, driven by strong economic fundamentals, increased foreign investment and a narrowing interest rate differential with the United States.
The ringgit, which had previously been a frequent target of worrying comments on social media, has now strengthened against major currencies.
Even critics of the PMX would agree that the strengthening of the ringgit reflects increased confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals and the direction of government policy.
The country’s unemployment rate has reached its lowest level in almost a decade, at 3.1 percent as of December 2024, reflecting a stable and strengthening labor market. This rate remains consistently low between 3.1 and 3.3 percent throughout late 2024 to early 2026.
Malaysia’s inflation rate in 2026 is expected to remain stable at around two percent, but conflicts in the West Asian region and rising oil prices are expected to impact national inflation and petrol costs in line with global trends.
These figures do not support the narrative that the PM is doing a poor job. This requires a significant and sustained effort to achieve.
“The problem in the digital space is not just the existence of criticism, and criticism is essential in any healthy democracy. The problem arises when ‘anger’ dominates the interaction.
“Algorithms reward anger, exaggeration and sensationalism. Nuance rarely goes viral,” according to one report.
Unfortunately, data-driven analysis rarely goes viral on social media. Malaysians do not have the patience to examine in-depth analysis and critically evaluate.
Economic data rarely grabs attention compared to dramatic claims that the country is on the brink of collapse. Over time, this creates a distorted perception. The loudest voices online can create the impression that the country is always failing despite the evidence to the contrary.
Most of us seem to be impressed by a few religious extremists who are relentlessly trying to stir up hatred over the Hindu Temple issue through their constant provocative actions and posts.
They may have been detained under the National Security Act during the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad era but such draconian laws have been repealed.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki is now in the spotlight as we await the outcome of an internal investigation into him.
He is being investigated for his involvement in the stock market, including whether he exceeded the limit allowed as a civil servant and whether he obtained the necessary approvals, not for alleged corruption.
Azam may not be a popular figure and many question his stance and working methods, but never in the country’s history have so many big personalities been detained and investigated. His job is to recommend to the Attorney-General for court action once the MACC has completed its investigation.
Of course, not everything is rosy in Malaysia. Issues such as income inequality, governance challenges, delayed reforms and the rising cost of living continue to be major concerns for many Malaysians.
These issues deserve honest discussion and policy attention, but a country’s challenges should be debated alongside its achievements and strengths.
Constantly projecting an image of failure does not help Malaysia much. On the contrary, it risks eroding confidence among the people and investors, thus creating a self-perpetuating cycle of pessimism.
“The story of Malaysia today is not about perfection, but it is also not about a country on the brink of collapse. It is about a country that is gradually regaining stability, attracting investment and strengthening its economic fundamentals,” said one analyst.
PMX has only been in office for three years. We are still grappling with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue. As of end-2025, Malaysia had paid RM42.17 billion to cover the debt and interest on 1MDB.
The debt burden is enormous with an outstanding balance of around RM9.02 billion, and the final maturity date for principal payments is expected in 2039, according to reports, and all of it is funded from the federal budget.
In conclusion, we need to ask a simple question: should we allow the loudest voices with political interests to dictate the national narrative on social media, or should we judge the country based on facts and evidence, not just emotions and prejudice?
— BERNAMA
