KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 — Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid warned today that students are not allowed to play mobile game Pokemon Go while in school areas.
According to Mahdzir, students have always been prohibited from using mobile phones in schools all this while, BH Online reported.
“We have always prohibited bringing mobile phones to schools, but with the trend of cyber games now, we want schools to be stricter.
“Teachers must confiscate a student’s mobile phone if they are found using it for cyber games,” he told the media in an Umno event in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan.
The Pokemon Go phenomenon is based on a 1990s game but updated with the latest technology that uses augmented reality to superimpose virtual creatures onto real world locations, and allows players to view and capture them through their smartphones.
On August 1, the Federal Territories Islamic Legal Consultative Committee has banned Muslims from playing the game, explaining the ban was made based on scripture and for the benefit of Muslims.
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) said today it supported the decision, urging Muslims in the country to avoid playing the game.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has since urged Muslims to respect fatwa, or religious edicts and muftis’ views on Pokemon Go due to the alleged negative effects of the augmented reality smartphone game.
