Dr Kelvin Yii
KUCHING (Oct 31): Malaysia must urgently strengthen regulations to protect children from the growing dangers of unregulated online gaming platforms, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
He said the recent attack on a young boy by the child’s older brother in Batu Pahat, Johor – believed by police to be linked to the Roblox online video game – should serve as a wake-up call for authorities and society to take the risks of online gaming seriously.
“What used to be a form of entertainment has now evolved into an ecosystem capable of shaping behaviour, emotions, and even values,” he said in a statement.
Dr Yii stressed that it was the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that the virtual world would not endanger real lives, particularly those of children.
He proposed several measures for the government’s consideration, including the introduction of a dedicated Act to regulate online gaming platforms.
According to him, existing laws are not designed to tackle modern gaming issues such as violent content, gambling-like systems, and online grooming.
“The law must adopt content-neutral and platform-neutral rules that focus on the level of harm, not the size of the platform.
“By doing so, platforms such as Roblox, Discord, and other interactive games will fall within the scope of regulation and be subject to proper safeguards,” he said.
Dr Yii also suggested the use of MyDigital ID or National Registration Department-verified tokens for child-user registration to verify minors’ accounts while safeguarding data privacy.
Additionally, Dr Yii said games featuring graphic violence, gambling-style mechanics, or unmoderated chatrooms should be strictly restricted or banned for users under 18.
“We cannot normalise aggression or desensitise children to violence under the guise of virtual experience. Predators and scammers often operate in unmonitored chatrooms too.”
He further proposed the introduction of gaming curfews similar to South Korea’s Shutdown Law, which restricts minors from accessing online games late at night to curb addiction and improve sleep habits.
Other measures include requiring gaming companies to release transparency reports on data usage involving Malaysian minors, regulating in-game purchases and advertising, and ensuring that only verified entities are allowed to advertise or sell within platforms.
Dr Yii also highlighted the importance of parental involvement, saying education programmes should be introduced to help parents recognise signs of gaming addiction and grooming risks, and to better protect their children online.
“No amount of regulation can replace parental engagement. When families, schools, and the government work together, the results will be far more effective than punitive measures alone,” he said.
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