PM Najib: eSports Can Generate Income For The Country In The Future
Gamers, it's your time to shine!
By Justin Tan — 15 Jan 2018, 04:23 PM
The government is looking into developing eSports as a new industry that can generate income for the country in the future, said PM Najib Razak
The prime minister said that this is in line with a budding industry in which the younger generation are already involved in, with some using it as a source of income.
"Embracing it as a new industry will promise a variety of opportunities, and not just entertainment and lifestyle. However, we must prepare our people to become the generators, the suppliers and active players in cyber games," he said at the Malaysia Cyber Games on Sunday, 14 January.
Lihat skil anak-anak muda kita di Malaysia Cyber Games tadi, saya percaya mereka mampu pergi jauh, e-sukan bukan sekadar hobi tapi boleh jana pendapatan dan juga jadi industri ekonomi digital. pic.twitter.com/pURuHA3FS4
— Mohd Najib Tun Razak (@NajibRazak) January 14, 2018
Najib, a long time supporter of eSports, said that the government is aware of the needs and desires of youths, as they will help support efforts to diversify e-sports programmes across the country
"I was told that cyber games will feature at the Asian Games in Indonesia this year. Perhaps this sport can go up until the Olympics.
"We need to embrace the change in the digital economy and the fourth revolution. This is the new lifestyle of young people. The government must be youth-oriented based on future needs and undergo change," Najib said, as reported by Bernama.
“We must be a government that cares and understands young people, their language and serve their needs and aspirations.”
Najib is also supportive of Kelab Suara Anak Muda 1Malaysia president Datuk Armand Azha Abu Hanifah’s suggestion for the Malaysia Cyber Games to be recognised as an association representing E-Games in Malaysia.
Relatedly, the Malaysia Cyber Games 2018 entered the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest video game tournament in the country. This year’s edition hosted nine video games and drew 2,062 participants.
Organised by Suara Anak Muda 1Malaysia dan Briged Kesatria, MCG2018 offered over RM300,000 worth of prizes across nine different games.
The contested games are 'Counter-Strike Global Offensive', 'Dota 2', 'FIFA 2018', 'Street Fighter', 'Mobile Legends', 'Tekken 7', 'Player Unknown Battleground', 'Injustice 2', and 'F1 2017 Racing'.