Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor said social media continues to play a significant role in shaping political perceptions and voter behaviour.
“In Sabah, the use of digital platforms has become increasingly widespread and effective—not only in urban areas but also in rural communities,” Kasim added.
He noted that voting patterns in Sabah have shown highly dynamic trends over the years.
Speaking at a seminar on the Sabah Election: The Direction of Sabah Politics, organised by the Electoral and Borneo Geopolitics Research Unit (Geopes) at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UMS, he said the public must remain vigilant as the rapid spread of information and disinformation can influence voters’ decisions irrationally.
Meanwhile, Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul said one of the persistent challenges in Sabah—and throughout Malaysia—is the generally low level of political literacy, particularly among younger voters.
Ramzah said politics should not be viewed merely as choosing leaders, but as a broader framework that includes understanding issues on the ground, the responsibilities of elected representatives and how their decisions impact the people.
He said many tend to view politics only through the lens of “politicking,” influenced by social media narratives or the visible conflicts between political leaders.
“Politics is much more than that. Politics is about our future,” he said.
“With stronger political literacy, we can better understand how to build the foundations of our democracy—particularly in Sabah’s ongoing struggle as a marginalised state.
“One of the key engines driving progress is politics. If we do not understand what is best for Sabah, we risk shaping political directions that do not benefit us.”
