Abstract
This chapter explores the phenomenon of digital authoritarianism in Malaysia, highlighting instances of online censorship by the government despite the country's general tolerance for online discussions that would be prohibited in the physical world. The chapter provides an overview of the political and social climate in Malaysia during the 2010s, with a particular focus on the deterioration of media freedoms in the country since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The chapter then delves into discussing internet governance in Malaysia and the role Islam plays to legitimize digital authoritarianism especially in the name of protecting the “3R”: Religion, Race, and Royalty. The relationship between digital authoritarianism and the growth of right-wing populism is also explored. By analyzing the various dimensions of digital authoritarianism in Malaysia, the chapter sheds light on the complex interplay between politics, religion, and technology in the country.
This chapter is an updated and revised version of an earlier journal paper: Shukri, Syaza. 2023. “Digital Authoritarianism: Protecting Islam in Multireligious Malaysia.” Religions, 14(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14010087.
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Shukri, S. (2023). Digital Authoritarianism and Religion in Malaysia. In: Yilmaz, I. (eds) Digital Authoritarianism and its Religious Legitimization. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3600-7_4
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