Azam Baki says Viral Content is Distorting Public Perception and Disrupting the Very Foundations of Due Process
In an age dominated by swipes, scrolls, and 15-second clips, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has issued a sobering warning: the very culture that fuels viral success may also be fuelling misinformation—and eroding public trust in the institutions meant to protect it.
Speaking candidly at a press conference yesterday, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki lamented the rise of “TikTok culture”—where speed and virality often trump depth and accuracy.
“What people like to read now is very short messages. They form opinions immediately after watching a short video,” Azam said.
“This is a very dangerous situation.”
When Attention Spans Shrink, Misconceptions Multiply
The MACC chief’s comments come amid mounting pressure over the agency’s handling of several high-profile corruption probes.
But Azam suggests the real problem lies beyond the headlines—literally.
As the public grows increasingly dependent on sensationalised content and attention-grabbing titles, nuanced reporting is falling by the wayside.
This leads to premature conclusions, misplaced outrage, and a misinformed citizenry.
“The headlines are very important,” Azam added.
“But when people only look at the headline, the whole case is gone.”
It’s not just about media consumption—it’s about media literacy.
In a climate where silence is read as closure and complexity is seen as avoidance, public confidence becomes a casualty of content culture.
A Marketing and Media Dilemma in Disguise
For marketers and media strategists, the MACC chief’s critique should hit close to home.
While short-form video is often lauded as a goldmine for engagement, this incident underscores a growing tension between reach and responsibility.
Do we still have room for context in a content economy that rewards speed over substance?
Azam’s remarks serve as a reminder: when narratives are shaped by fragments, public opinion can quickly spiral away from truth.
And in sectors as sensitive as law enforcement or governance, that distortion can have serious implications.
Not Just About MACC—A Wake-Up Call for Storytellers
Whether you’re a brand custodian or a content creator, the takeaway is clear: audiences may be scrolling faster, but their need for trust, transparency and depth has never been greater.
Sensationalism may earn clicks—but credibility earns loyalty.
In Azam’s own words,“When investigations are prematurely judged in the public domain, it risks undermining due process.”
As the marketing world continues to chase trends and algorithms, perhaps the real creative challenge of 2025 is not how short we can go—but how deep we’re willing to take our audiences.
