MalayMail-May 20
More Malaysians are becoming less tolerant of people with differing opinions and values, according to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, which points to a deepening “insular trust” mindset and widening social polarization. Despite improving overall trust in institutions such as businesses and the government, the report suggests a worrying trend: Malaysians are increasingly retreating into familiar information environments and are less willing to trust those with different values, political views or cultural backgrounds. On average, 65 per cent of Malaysians now exhibit an insular trust mindset, while only 37 per cent regularly seek information from sources with differing political viewpoints, the survey found. The polarization has also reached global highs. A staggering 87 per cent of Malaysian respondents said distrust towards people with differences has become so severe that individuals actively try to make things worse for one another — the highest level recorded across all surveyed markets. More than 70 per cent of Malaysians also believe foreign actors are deliberately spreading disinformation through local media to inflame domestic divisions, a concern second only to the United Arab Emirates. The report said this insularity has moved beyond a social issue and is now becoming an economic challenge.
Up to 48 per cent of Malaysians admitted they would put less effort into helping a colleague or manager whose political beliefs differ from their own, while 38 per cent said they would prefer to switch departments entirely rather than work under a manager with different values. Edelman warned that, if left unchecked, this trend could affect workplace collaboration, productivity and talent mobility. Mazuin Zin, CEO and senior adviser for Edelman Southeast Asia, said Malaysia risks undermining its trust advantages if divisions deepen.
“Bridging them is not just a social imperative; it is the precondition for the next phase of our growth,” Mazuin said in a statement, noting that trust is increasingly confined within familiar echo chambers. When navigating divisive social issues, 38 per cent of Malaysians believe businesses are most effective when they encourage cooperation without taking sides.
This is higher than the 32 per cent who prefer companies to take a values-based stance, while 11 per cent believe businesses should remain completely silent. Read more at:
