Introduction

Social media has become an influential platform for political discourse and engagement in Malaysia. It has played a significant role in shaping political narratives, mobilizing supporters and fostering political activism (Leong 2019; Chin 2003).

In recent years, social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter (now known as X), TikTok and YouTube have been widely used by Malaysian politicians, political parties and activists to connect with the public and convey their messages. Social media provides a more accessible and immediate channel for politicians to communicate directly with their constituents, bypassing traditional media outlets. Social media is also used by marginalized communities to create their own voice in Malaysia because these communities are often ignored by the mainstream media (Loh and Chin 2023).

Overall, social media has become the most significant factor in shaping political conversations in Malaysia. It provides a platform for citizens to voice their opinions, engage with political figures and mobilize support for various causes. However, the challenges of misinformation and government regulations continue to influence the dynamics of politics on social media in the country. This chapter highlights the political social media in Sabah and Sarawak, two states often ignored by scholars working on Malaysia. It is largely based on my observation and participation in many political social media groups on Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram during 2021–23. All these groups were started and administered by Sarawakians and Sabahans. This chapter is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the political social media community in Sarawak, followed by the social media community in Sabah. The second part discusses the key themes in Sarawak, namely Gabungan Parti Sarawak, state nationalism and secession, Abdul Taib Mahmud, the issue of native customary rights (NCR) and Dayak marginalization; followed by the key themes in Sabah, namely political instability and “Kataks”, the issue of Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI), marginalization of Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus (KDMR) and non-Muslims, and territorial claims by Sulu. The final part deals with common themes in both states, namely the controversy over the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) and the political marginalization of non-Muslim Bumiputera.