Negeri Sembilan Mufti Wants PUBG To Be Banned Because It Makes Players "Enjoy War"
Other politicians have since rebutted the mufti's claims.
By Alyssa J. Oon — 18 Mar 2019, 02:42 PM
Following the terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Negeri Sembilan mufti is calling for a ban on popular online shooting game 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' (PUBG)
Negeri Sembilan mufti Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad called for the government to urgently consider a ban on the game as it had a negative impact on children and youth, reported New Straits Times.
"The goal [of PUBG] is to shape the minds of the younger generation to enjoy war, to fight, and indulge in vicious activities," he reportedly said.
"It is not impossible that firearms may be easily accessed one day. Think of the consequences if PUBG becomes part of our youths' lives."
In response, the Kelantan government said e-sports had "positive contributions" to both the economy and technology
Human Development, Higher Education, Science, and Technology executive councillor Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said video games have no influence on a person's thinking.
"We cannot link it (the killings) with e-sports. That incident was an act of terror. If not a rifle, the man could have used a knife or sword. E-sport does not influence but develops a person's thinking towards positivity," he said, according to Free Malaysia Today.
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said extremist acts would still happen even if such games were banned
"Trust me, whether or not there are such online games, people with extremist beliefs will still carry out violent acts," he said, in response to a question is the government would ban online games with violent elements.
"This (the incident) is bigger than that. We have to pay our respects to those who have lost their lives but don't be too quick to blame online games," he said, reported New Straits Times.
"Does it mean that we have to ban all games with shooting elements? I think the shooting in Christchurch is bigger than that. Even before PUBG, these kinds of acts happened."