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SHAH ALAM – Umno has urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into revelations concerning the alleged use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to influence political discourse in Malaysia.
Umno information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said although there was currently no evidence that the operation had successfully influenced election results or changed voters’ positions, the matter should nevertheless be taken seriously.
She said revelations by AI company Anthropic concerning around 1,000 fake accounts on X, fabricated news websites and false accusatory content raised questions about who was behind the operation.
“The public also needs to be more careful about what they see on social media. Today, anyone can create a Facebook page that looks like a news portal or an information website.
“Real news can be mixed with half-truths, misleading headlines or facts taken out of context, eventually creating a false perception,” she said in a statement on Saturday.
On Friday, Sinar Daily reported that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was reviewing Anthropic’s latest report concerning the misuse of its Claude AI models.
The report, titled “Detecting and Countering Misuse of AI: September 2026”, revealed various attempts to misuse AI technology for cyber operations and campaigns aimed at influencing public perception.
Among the allegations highlighted in the report was an election manipulation operation allegedly targeting Malaysia and linked to a Turkish technology company, BBS Bilisim Teknolojileri.
Elaborating, Azalina said Umno was also not spared from perception attacks through social media, including repeated allegations posted in comment sections.
However, she stressed that Umno did not assume all negative comments came from automated accounts or bots.
“People have the right to criticise Umno, the government or any leader. Fact-based criticism must be respected,” she said.
Azalina said Umno took note of the explanation provided by MCMC and hoped any action against digital manipulation would be carried out fairly, regardless of the political background of those involved.
“If supporters of the ruling party break the law, take action. If supporters of the Opposition break the law, take action.
“The law cannot have one standard for friends and another for opponents,” she said.
Azalina also stressed that transparency and consistent enforcement were crucial to ensuring Malaysia’s digital space remained safe and credible, and free from manipulation that could undermine public confidence in the democratic process.
