{
  "id": 6834926,
  "title": "Exploiting religion for electoral gain divides society",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/exploiting-religion-for-electoral-gain-divides-society",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T01:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2026/09/12/exploiting-religion-for-electoral-gain-divides-society"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Exploiting religion to gain political advantage is tearing Malaysia apart. Those who manipulate faith to serve their own interests brand dissenters as heretics to advance their partisan agenda. This must stop, as politics and governance should never compromise decorum, ethics, or truth.\n\nWhen religion is weaponized for electoral gain, its sanctity erodes, leaving society divided. In a multi-ethnic nation like Malaysia, where religion and ethnicity are intertwined, this is especially perilous. The consequences of this exploitation threaten economic stability, foreign and domestic investment, and national harmony.\n\nThe digital age amplifies the problem. Social media fuels religious and racial tensions, turning local issues into national crises within minutes. Algorithms promote anger-inducing content, creating echo chambers that erode empathy and tolerance. In this climate, the diversity that should be Malaysia's strength becomes a fault line, capable of igniting conflict.\n\nTo preserve social security and national cohesion, we must reject identity politics and extremist ideologies. Our nation's maturity is at stake. How we respond to these provocations will shape our future. By cherishing Malaysia's diversity as a divine decree and rejecting narrow, divisive narratives, we can strengthen our social fabric and ensure a harmonious future for all citizens.",
  "summary": "Using the people’s beliefs to promote a political ideal also risks casting the faith in a bad light.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Exploiting religion for electoral gain divides society",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/exploiting-religion-for-electoral-gain-divides-society-6835613",
        "published": "2026-09-12T01:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}