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The government is considering banning popular online gaming platform Roblox, following concerns that it could negatively influence children
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the proposal is still being discussed. According to her, any final decision will take Australia's upcoming regulations on Roblox, which are expected to take effect in December, into account.
"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 was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The minister's comments come after police began investigating whether Roblox influenced a violent incident in Batu Pahat late last month
On 27 October, a 9-year-old boy allegedly slashed his 6-year-old brother's neck after obsessively playing the game at Kampung Parit Nipah Laut in Parit Raja.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said initial findings revealed that the boy had been "obsessively" playing Roblox before the attack.
"Preliminary findings suggest the injuries were inflicted by the boy's 9-year-old sibling. The motive is still under investigation, but we discovered that he had been playing 'Roblox' excessively on his mobile phone," Rahaman was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.
Investigators found that the boy had reportedly accumulated nearly one million points in the game before his younger brother accidentally damaged his phone, causing him to lose all his progress.
"During questioning, the boy claimed he began experiencing hallucinations that night, as if instructed to harm his family members. He then took a knife and attacked his younger brother," Rahaman said, adding that police are verifying the statement.
The boys' parents, both in their 40s, were remanded for two days.
Meanwhile, Australia is preparing to introduce restrictions on Roblox for users aged 16 and below, following mounting global concerns about the game's safety and content exposure
Nancy said Malaysia will closely observe Australia's approach before making any decision against the platform.
"Technological advances of this nature can contribute to such incidents. That's why we must proceed with caution and learn from other countries before making any decisions," she said.
