Malaysian police to consider banning Pokemon Go
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26 Jul - Unless you've been living under a rock, then you know that Pokémon Go is slowly but surely taking over the world!
As the game has now made its way to most parts of the world, eagerly awaiting gamers and Pokémon fans in Malaysia are facing the game not being released at all.
Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has stated that the police would be monitoring the game before deciding if it should be banned in Malaysia.
Why so serious? It's only a game, right?
Well, not according to the IGP who says that the game has thus far caused issues in other countries like road accidents, robbery and more.
"This is a game. If it is against the law, then we will take action. We will monitor the situation first before deciding if it should be banned," he was quoted as saying by Astro Awani.
On the other hand, Penang Mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor is calling for Pokémon Go to be declared "haram" altogether.
As reported in Sinar Harian, a supposed 'study' by the mufti's department has deduced that the negatives outweigh the positives of the game.
"We hope the National Fatwa Council will ban the game as soon as possible," he was quoted as saying.
Even across the border, Singapore Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said that the pros and cons of the game needs to be studied before a decision was made.
Indonesia has banned the game among its civil servants and visitors to Japan's Shinto Shrine of Izumo-taisha are banned from playing the game at the premises.
The location-based, augmented reality fame for mobile devices was first launched on 6 July 2016 in Australia, New Zealand and United States.
With a quickly growing fan base, it finally made its way to Asia with its release in Japan on 22 July 2016 and then in Hong Kong on 25 July with a September release date planned for Thailand.
No release date has been planned for Malaysia and other Southeast Asia countries yet, but it is expected to be by this year as well.
