SHAH ALAM – An increasing number of social media accounts have been circulating positive content about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, particularly highlighting his handling of the spillover effects of the Middle East crisis on Malaysians.
Across TikTok, Facebook and X, posts praising Anwar’s responses – including his vocal condemnation of strikes in the Middle East and Malaysia’s diplomatic positioning – have gained wide traction, creating an impression of strong public support online.
However, analysts cautioned that this visibility may not accurately reflect sentiment on the ground.
Political analyst Arif Anwar said the online narrative could be amplified by cybertrooper activity rather than organic public opinion.
“Much of the current narrative may be driven by cybertroopers rather than organic public sentiment,” he said, adding that views among voters remained mixed.
He noted that sentiment varies across demographic groups, with B40 and Malay voters largely neutral, while upper M40 Malays in the Klang Valley and many non-Malay voters tend to be more critical.
Arif added that earlier positive sentiment linked to economic indicators such as the ringgit’s performance has since been overshadowed by several politically sensitive issues, including temple disputes, regional tensions and fiscal measures such as subsidy rationalisation and budget adjustments.
He said these factors have contributed to a more competitive narrative environment, where messaging played a greater role than policy explanations.
“Opposition messaging currently appears more emotionally resonant, which may influence voter sentiment heading into GE16,” he said, adding that delaying elections could carry political risks depending on how public sentiment evolves.
Meanwhile, International Islamic University Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Shafizan Mohamed said global crises such as the Middle East situation can influence domestic political discourse, particularly when leaders take visible stances that resonate with identity and foreign policy concerns.
However, she cautioned against interpreting online engagement as a direct measure of public support.
“Online popularity does not always reflect real-world public support.
“Visibility is often shaped by a mix of genuine sentiment, algorithm amplification and influencer activity,” she said.