Anthropology offers a lens!
1. Define group identity in terms of markers.
2. Install programmatic emotional stress triggered by markers.
3. Manipulate messaging to frequently trigger markers.
First, we note there is a simple pattern of "in-group" vs "out-group" political conditioning of the Malay masses by the Malay leaders, over the years ... Tun's Malay Dilemma psy-ops captures this effort very nicely.
Second, in order to make this work, the conditioned subject must be primed with triggers, which make the subject feel that the subject is surrounded by abuse when they talk to members of the out-group. Let's call these triggers, "out-group markers". These cause the conditioned subject to instinctively dwell upon their corresponding "in-group markers" as a vector for call-and-response for help and comfort within the in-group. Essentially this is an adult version of the crying and soothing pattern.
Thirdly, after the triggers have been installed, manipulators simply need to adjust the frequency of external stimulus which sets off the triggers. A foolish member of the out-group, being unaware of the in-group triggers, may be clumsy in delivering an ordinary message, such that the conditioned subject interprets it as a threat. An astute manipulator can misquote, annotate, or otherwise run interference on an ordinary message ... and reposition it to more effectively trigger the conditioned subject. This is where folks like Akmal step in. We do not know if DAP is infiltrated by (a) dunces, (b) or people who intentionally screw up their public messaging, or (c) if DAP is simply deployjng this same manipulation strategy towards DAP's constituents, i.e. "dog-whistling".
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I am not sure what this pattern is called, but it is widely studied on how certain religions train their members. Often, for example, young Christians ask their leaders, "why do non-Christians get annoyed, when I am trying to help them by sharing enlightenment and salvation", etc. And it is a well-defined and understood method for running such groups.
Anthropology is fun! People are amusing.