There are several main reasons why Malaysian netizens sign up for Twitter: to follow local and global celebrities, share whatever they’re into with their (mostly disinterested) followers, and to check what crazy thing local politicians are saying on any given day.
Media research firm Politweet confirmed that last bit, as it has found that Malaysian politicians who are known for putting out outrageous opinions on social media tend to enjoy a surge in virality and popularity.
Throughout 2015, Politweet found that consistentl controversial UMNO politicians shot up the social media ranks faster than their more sensible-sounding compatriots.
The firm told The Malay Mail Online that Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry Ahmad Maslan, well-known for his mystifying and obnoxious tweets on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) – not to mention the dubious honour of being “the most hated man in Malaysia”nsurged 17 spots in Politweet’s Twitter rankings to become the fifth most popular politician in Malaysian social media.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, called out for his idea to set up the Malay-only MARA Digital Mall, and criticised for allegedly eating endangered leatherback turtle eggs at an UMNO event in Sabah, also rose from 50th place to 16th in Malaysia’s overall social media standings, making him the seventh-most popular UMNO polirtician online.
Even the giants aren’t safe: Supreme Emperor of Malaysian Political Twitter and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin was dethroned last year by his IRL boss, Prime Minister Najib Razak as the most popular politician on Malaysian Twitter.
Similarly, former Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin fell a bit from his 2-14 rank of 14th, to 23rd following his sacking from the Najib administration in late July.
