KUALA LUMPUR: The country is experiencing the emergence of "toxic politics" at a very large scale, said Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
This toxic politicking, he said, is being manifested through all forms of slander, hatred, and excessive malice.
"In the last general elections, we have witnessed an unprecedented level of political hate speech.
"Social media has become the battleground for a revolution that promotes toxic politics, hatred and malice.
"Based on my observation, mature, respectful and idea-driven politics seems to have vanished from the Malay political landscape," he said.
Mohamad said this in his speech when he simultaneously launched the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri delegates' conferences here, tonight.
He told delegates toxic politics had destroyed the core values that had motivated members towards political engagement and the reason behind supporting political ideals.
"We must fight toxic politics. The Malays must realise that the politics of extreme hate and toxicity will cause us to have an 'anti-akal' (illogical mindset), anti-truth, and anti-everything.
"It will not benefit anyone. It will only cause more division between the Malays," he said.