Deputy unity minister warns AI racial, religious posts being 'weaponised'

The National Unity Ministry has detected that around 70 percent of divisive online posts are generated using AI, particularly on topics such as unlicensed houses of worship and drink driving.

According to Deputy Minister R Yuneswaran, such posts might be “weapons” for political gain, as the ministry detected repetitive patterns among such content.

“Within an hour of a posting being uploaded, there will be 10,000 likes and 800 comments - that’s on a Monday morning at 11am.

“It is very unnatural because most people are at work at that time, but the engagement is too high… it looks like there is a lot of politically motivated movements,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Pusat Komas Malaysian Racism Report 2025 launch in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Segamat MP said the reactions to the posts could be inauthentic, as the public is usually tight-lipped when it comes to heated issues.

“If I post about politics on Facebook, sometimes my friends won’t comment or even like it, what more about 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues. Would anyone dare to comment?” Yuneswaran questioned.

Commenting on online debates over unauthorised houses of worship, the PKR MP stressed that such issues can be settled amicably between landowners and temple authorities without igniting tensions.

“If local authorities, state government (representatives), assemblypersons, and lawmakers react swiftly, it wouldn’t come to a point where it becomes a racial or religious issue,” he said.

READ MORE: Build temples, preach Islam as much as you want, just follow law - PM

He also noted that there have been “overly racist” online comments after a motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a car yesterday, with the driver testing positive for alcohol and drugs.

“You were under the influence of drugs and alcohol, you drove and hit someone - this is a criminal case and has nothing to do with race.

“We don’t condone anything that is obviously wrong under our laws, (but) we would like to advise society not to be influenced by (such comments) which can jeopardise our unity,” Yuneswaran said.

The incident at Jalan Raya Barat in Klang, Selangor, yesterday has reignited public fury, with many calling for the government to take firmer action, including imposing the death penalty.

Over 200 rally outside PMO, urge PM to act on rising racial tensions

Farmer fined RM15k for offensive comment on FB

Intoxicated driving case which killed motorcyclist triggers renewed outrage

King: Any elements threatening unity must be eradicated without compromise