Kuala lumpur: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has expressed deep concern over the many hate postings and comments on social media, saying he is disturbed over the rising tide of issues of race and religion, as well as fake news. The Ruler advised netizens to 'think deeply before you post something or want to say something'.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sultan Sharafuddin warned that there are consequences to such postings, especially those related to race and religion, which include harm and stirring unnecessary hatred. His Royal Highness questioned the purpose of race-based narratives and comments that lead to polarization and mistrust among Malaysians. He criticized terms like 'Type C' (Chinese) or 'Type M' (Malays), and urged an end to such divisive language.

In an exclusive interview with Bernama, conducted by its chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Sultan Sharafuddin urged the people of Selangor to focus on the commonalities among all races instead of dwelling on differences. He stressed the importance of working together for the common good, emphasizing values and principles in life and religion.

Sultan Sharafuddin expressed concern that the situation could worsen as the country approaches the next general election, potentially next year or the following year. He highlighted the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in creating damaging content to incite political negativity, and called for strict laws to prevent such abuses, including deepfakes often used by scammers.

He further stated that hate speech and malicious content tied to race and religion jeopardize social harmony and are legally actionable under existing laws. His Royal Highness emphasized that in Malaysia, where sensitivities around ethnicity, faith, and national identity are high, such online behavior cannot be tolerated.