How does Haikal Idris view the role of religion in Malaysian online discourse?

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Haikal Idris says Malaysian online discourse uses religion as a tool for moral superiority rather than shared understanding
Haikal Idris views religion in Malaysian online discourse as something that people use to position themselves as morally superior, with both ultra-liberals and ultra-conservatives drawing on religion or moral claims to attack or belittle others. He argues that social media becomes an easy platform for validation, where users react by taking offence and pushing narratives rather than engaging with credible information. He has also said he is puzzled when non-Muslims get offended by his jokes about Islam because he is Muslim himself.
He sees both ultra-liberals and ultra-conservatives using moral claims
Haikal describes ultra-conservatives as using religion to make themselves feel better than people they consider less religious, while ultra-liberals, in his view, attack those they believe do not meet the same moral standards. In his account, the conflict is less about constructive disagreement and more about judging others through competing moral frameworks.
Social media, in his view, rewards validation and offence
He characterises social media as the easiest form of validation for someone to claim a higher moral ground than other people. During his time curating @twt_malaysia, he said people reacted strongly to his jokes and labelled him “un-Islamic” while also hurling insults, and he linked the intensity of backlash to what he described as the state of religion in the country.
He says offence can be used to justify narratives rather than truth
Haikal argues that getting offended is often the easiest option to justify one’s own narrative, citing how social media users shared content that he said did not look legitimate. He described an episode where claims about HIV statistics were supported with a chart he said looked like it was made on PowerPoint, until someone later provided a trustworthy source and he accepted he was wrong.
He wants an Islam that encourages independent thinking, and he questions “offence on behalf of others”
He said he does not want “a more liberal Islam” but an Islam where Muslims can think for themselves, contrasting this with an education system he feels teaches refusal to think and understand, especially about faith. He also said some non-Muslims were offended when he used Islam as a premise for jokes, which he found puzzling because he is Muslim and was speaking from within the faith.

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How does Haikal Idris view the role of religion in Malaysian online discourse?

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