Empathy is what we are missing in Malaysia. But so is critical thinking. And the two are connected.

When we spend hours scrolling through algorithmically curated feeds, we lose sight of what is real. 

We see outrage, division, and conflict not because the country is falling apart, but because that is what keeps us engaged. The algorithm does not care about nuance. It does not care about balance. It cares about engagement. And nothing engages like fear.

So we scroll. We click. We share. We spiral.

But here is the truth, the Malaysia of your feed is not the Malaysia of your street.

The Algorithmic Echo Chamber

The internet, for all its wonders, has become a machine that feeds us exactly what we want to see and never what we don't.

You lean toward a certain political view? Your feed will reinforce it. You click on one divisive headline? Your feed will serve you ten more. 

You express outrage about a racial or religious issue? Your feed will turn that outrage into an endless stream of content designed to keep you angry.

The result is an echo chamber. A curated reality where every Malaysian seems to be at war with every other Malaysian. Where racial tensions appear to be boiling over. Where the country appears to be teetering on the brink.

And then you step outside.

The Malaysia You Live In

Step outside your front door. Walk to the nearest mamak. Watch the traffic. Go to a football match.

What do you see?

People eating together. People working together. People celebrating together.

Malaysians watched the Malaysia vs Chelsea football match. The crowd cheered. People stood up and sang the national anthem. There was unity. There was pride. There was a shared moment of joy that transcended race, religion, and politics.

Football. Cycling. Merdeka celebrations. These are the moments that remind us what Malaysia actually looks like.

Though the radicals, the super tensions, the extremists are very much real, but they are a minority. Unless you live in an extremist state, which is a whole other story, the Malaysia of your daily life is not the Malaysia of your doomscroll.

The tension is real. But it is also greatly exaggerated.

The Bait We Keep Biting

Politicians know this. They know that a provocative statement will generate headlines, drive engagement, and rally their base. They know that the algorithm will amplify their message far beyond its actual reach.

And we keep biting the bait. We share the outrage. We comment on the controversy. We spread the fear.

We do this because it feels right. It feels like we are standing up for something. It feels like we are part of a movement. It feels like we are making a difference.

But in reality, we are just feeding the machine. We are giving the algorithm exactly what it wants. And we are making the problem worse.

The Personal Responsibility

Here is the part that no one wants to hear: you are what you consume.

The algorithm will give you what you want. If you want outrage, it will give you outrage. If you want division, it will give you division. If you want fear, it will give you fear.

But the decision to be critical is always in your hands.

You can choose to recognise that what you see on your feed is not the full picture. You can choose to step back and ask: is this really the country I live in? You can choose to seek out perspectives that challenge your own. You can choose to engage with nuance rather than outrage.

And you can choose to touch grass.

Empathy and Critical Thinking

Empathy is what we are missing in Malaysia. But empathy without critical thinking is just sentimentality.

We need to understand that the person on the other side of the political divide is not our enemy. They are our neighbours. They are our colleagues. They are our fellow Malaysians. Their fears are real. Their frustrations are valid. Their experiences are different from ours — but they are not inferior.

We also need to understand that the internet is not reality. The algorithm is not a mirror. The outrage is not the whole story.

So take the news with a grain of salt. Don't let the words get to you. Think ahead. Recognise that the Malaysia of your feed is not the Malaysia of your street.

Go Out and Touch Some Grass

Malaysia is not perfect. There are real issues. Real tensions. Real conflicts.

But the Malaysia of your social media feed is not the Malaysia you live in. The radicals are loud, but they are few. The division is real, but it is not the whole story.

Step outside. Touch some grass. Look around.

You will see people living, working, and celebrating together. You will see the Malaysia that exists beyond the algorithm.

And you will realise that the country you fear is not the country you actually live in.

Because at the end of the day, you are what you consume. The decision to be critical is always in your hands. Choose wisely.