This study was conducted to investigate the rhetorical appeals used by the new generation of Malaysian politicians in their social media communication. Drawing on Aristotle’s rhetorical appeal theory, two (2) research questions were posited: (a) What were the different communicative practices used in the media posts of the selected new generation of Malaysian politicians? and (b) Which type of rhetorical appeals was most commonly used among the selected politicians? The data for the study were collected from the target politicians’ social media platforms related to the Taman Sri Muda flood crisis dated from the 17th of December 2021 to the 10th of January 2022. This study revolved around five (5) politicians categorised as the new generation of Malaysian politicians: Syed Saddiq [P1], Hannah Yeoh [P2], Fahmi Fadzil [P3], Amirudin Shari [P4], and Kasthuri Patto [P5]. The data were analysed thematically and classified based on Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos and logos. Eight (8) sub-themes emerged from the data analysis. It was found that each politician had utilised different communicative practices depending on the objectives of his or her appeals. However, the highest number of rhetorical appeals used among all the politicians combined, was logos. This study contributes to the literature on social media and politics related to persuasive strategies used by politicians and political communication.
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