The rise of PAS is widely believed to be linked to the decline of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), as Muslim Malays seek an alternative party that aligns with their aspirations to protect Islam and preserve Malay privileges. UMNO, a dominant member of the BN coalition, has been marred by corruption scandals, including the 1MDB scandal, which led to the prosecution of former prime minister Najib Razak. Since Anwar Ibrahim became prime minister following GE15, his administration has been challenged by PAS’s growing popularity. Many observers argue that if PAS wins the next general election, Malaysia could become more conservative. In GE15, PAS campaigned strategically both online and offline. TikTok played a crucial role in its online campaign, and the party also leveraged a vast nationwide network of Muslim clerics who promote a conservative Islamic ideology to young people. During the GE15 campaign, Anwar promised reforms, including a review and repeal of “provisions of acts that can be abused to restrict free speech.”179 This includes the repressive 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) and the 1948 Sedition Act. However, his administration has stalled these reforms, and state authorities have significantly increased censorship. Some observers suggest that this shift may be politically motivated, given that the administration needs to secure votes from Malay supporters who appear to back PAS, as observed in state elections following GE15180. According to these observers, increased censorship may indicate that the government is adopting a more conservative stance for political gain and to curb PAS’s strategic advances, particularly given that its GE15 campaign was dominated by political propaganda and disinformation181, 182. Yosof, Iman Muttaqin. “Activists: Malaysia’s Decade-Old Crackdown on Free Speech Shows No Signs of Easing.” BenarNews, 31 Mar. 2025, www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/anwar-freespeech-03312025115152.html. 180. “Islamist Parties Are Gaining Ground in Malaysia.” The Economist, 7 Aug. 2025, www.economist.com/ asia/2025/08/07/islamist-parties-are-gaining-ground-in-malaysia. 181. Azmi, Hadi. “Malaysia Eyes Censorship Powers Over Netflix, Other Streaming Content Amid Creeping Conservatism.” South China Morning Post, 22 Mar. 2024, www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/ article/3256387/malaysia-eyes-censorship-powers-over-netflix-other-streaming-content-amidcreeping-conservatism. 182. Mahmud, Aqil Haziq. “Analysis: The Anwar Government’s Growing Push Against Big Tech Raises Questions of Its True Intentions.” CNA, 8 Aug. 2024, www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-social-medialicence-big-tech-anwar-ibrahim-meta-tiktok-4534646. 179. 45