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KUALA LUMPUR: Umno should form a dedicated digital wing to be part of the party’s institutional structure to establish better social media presence for election campaigns, among others, says its information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said .
She proposed that the new wing should be formalised instead of utilising social media platforms only as and when needed. "It should not be created merely for by-elections or general elections, nor formed in response to temporary political circumstances," she said during the Digital Era in Politics Symposium 2026 held at the Umno General Assembly here on Wednesday . "It... should also not be used only during divisional or branch-level elections, limited to producing posters and uploading photographs. "What we need instead is a proper structure that is equal in status to the current wings at divisional and branch levels and to the existing party wings, so that the divisions and branches under Umno – Puteri, Youth and Wanita – are no longer without a digital wing." Azalina stressed that Umno members must be systematically trained in social media usage, as political communication is no longer confined to in-person engagement. "Politics today is no longer just about physical ceramah or meetings. Algorithmic reading shows that Malay voters who previously relied on Facebook are now shifting to TikTok, which has become our primary battleground in the digital era," she said. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department also warned that emerging technologies such as deepfake videos and artificial intelligence posed serious challenges to political integrity. "These technologies can be used for character assassination against our candidates, especially during by-elections and the upcoming 16th General Election . The question is how far and how fast we can respond to such negative content," she said. Azalina added that digital preparedness must begin at the branch level, even though Umno’s current strengths include representation at the Cabinet and in state governments. "Our weakness is not at the top, but from the bottom up. If grassroots digital machinery is weak, it can destroy the credibility of our candidates at both state and federal levels," she said. Azalina also highlighted the importance of young voters, particularly those aged 18, who will form a significant portion of the electorate in GE16. "If GE16 is held this year or next year, these voters would have been born in 2008. They were born into the digital era.Azalina stressed that Umno’s information machinery at all levels must include a digital segment capable of coordinating social media operations, running campaigns, shaping perceptions and ensuring that get-out-the-vote efforts move in tandem with digital platforms.Bangladeshi firm director fined RM50,000 over forged labour recalibration document
Umno Digital Wing Formal Structure Azalina Othman Said Information Chief Political Arena Challenges Social Media Elections GE16 Umno General Assembly Digital Era In Politics Symposium 2026
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