KUCHING: The government is considering the possibility of banning online gaming platforms Roblox and UMI amid growing concerns over safety and content that could negatively influence young people, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic).
She said the matter is still under discussion, with any final decision to take into account Australia’s upcoming regulations on Roblox, scheduled to take effect in December.
“We are closely monitoring how Australia implements these regulations.
“They are still in the planning stage and nothing has been enforced yet.
“Malaysia will evaluate whether a similar approach aligns with our local context and cultural norms,” she told reporters after attending the Temporary Relief Centre Training and Simulation Programme here yesterday, Bernama reported.
She was commenting on an incident in which a six-year-old boy was critically injured after allegedly being slashed and stabbed by his nine-year-old brother in Kampung Parit Nipah, Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, on Monday.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said that the motive is still under investigation, adding that preliminary findings suggest the attack occurred after the victim allegedly caused his brother to lose all the points he had accumulated in the game.
The Australian government is considering restrictions on Roblox for users aged 16 and under amid concerns that the platform could negatively influence children and has been linked to several incidents that have drawn international attention.
Nancy said Malaysia will carefully monitor Australia’s policy rollout before making any official decision regarding the app.
“Indeed, technological advances of this nature can contribute to such incidents.
“That is why we must proceed with caution and draw lessons from other countries before making any decisions,” she added.
