Over the last five months, Malaysia has seen a dramatic shift in its politics, the unfolding of a public health crisis, and an economic downturn threatening the livelihoods of millions. Has this resulted in a general atmosphere of anxiety that pervades the entire society? And is it driving many of the controversies we have seen in the public realm recently, including the recurring anti-immigrant sentiment. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Ahmad Fuad Rahmat, Assistant Professor of Media, Languages and Culture at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.