Mohamad Sabu Warns Unverified Claims Can Fuel Asabiyah and Political Division

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has cautioned that accepting allegations without proper examination can contribute to asabiyah, a form of group-based thinking in which people defend their own community regardless of wrongdoing while viewing other groups negatively even when they act positively.

Mohamad said Malaysians should avoid accepting information at face value and instead investigate claims, understand their wider context and obtain a clearer picture before deciding what to believe. He said the same principle is particularly important when assessing current political developments in Malaysia.

His remarks came after the launch of his book “Mustadhafin vs Mustakbirin,” co-written with Ennie Zuhasniza Jamaludin, in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The book was launched by National Journalism Laureate and Star Media Group Berhad director Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar.

Mohamad highlighted the continued circulation of allegations portraying the DAP as a communist party, arguing that such claims should not simply be repeated without first examining whether they are supported by evidence.

He said political narratives can become especially divisive when supporters automatically accept accusations against opposing groups while refusing to question claims made by their own side.

According to Mohamad, that pattern risks strengthening asabiyah and weakening society’s ability to judge political issues based on facts rather than partisan loyalty.

His comments underline a broader concern surrounding Malaysia’s increasingly fast-moving political information environment, where allegations, short video clips and partisan commentary can spread rapidly through social-media platforms before they are fully verified.

Mohamad said facts and knowledge often require more time to understand than accusations and suspicions, which can spread much more easily, particularly on social media.

He argued that this makes critical thinking increasingly important as people are exposed to competing narratives on politics, religion, ethnicity and national affairs.

Rather than relying solely on second-hand claims, Mohamad encouraged the public to examine information independently and seek a fuller understanding of events before adopting a firm position.

He said this approach has shaped his own thinking since his younger years, explaining that he has long preferred investigating issues himself rather than automatically accepting information or propaganda passed on by others.

Mohamad said “Mustadhafin vs Mustakbirin” reflects his experiences and encounters with various groups as he sought to understand issues based on circumstances on the ground rather than relying solely on information circulated by others.

The book also examines broader geopolitical developments through his own observations and experiences.

Among the subjects explored are colonialism, Islamic movements, the Palestinian conflict and changes in the global balance of power, according to the report.

The work appears to connect Mohamad’s political experiences with his wider argument that complex issues should be examined through evidence, direct observation and historical context rather than slogans or assumptions.

The concept of asabiyah has often been associated with excessive loyalty to one’s own group, tribe or community.

In Mohamad’s argument, the danger emerges when political or communal identity becomes more important than the truth itself — leading supporters to justify wrongdoing by their own group while refusing to acknowledge positive actions by others.

His remarks come at a time when Malaysia’s political discourse remains highly active across social media, where competing narratives can quickly gain traction among supporters of different parties.

Mohamad’s central message was that political disagreements should still be evaluated through facts, evidence and careful examination, rather than automatic loyalty to one political camp.

By encouraging Malaysians to scrutinise allegations before accepting or sharing them, he said society would be better placed to avoid unnecessary prejudice, suspicion and division.