Govt stresses enforcement on harmful content as MCMC moves towards stricter age-verification and protection rules
PETALING JAYA: The government has no plans to ban video games such as those on the Roblox gaming platform, but enforcement action can still be taken against unlawful content under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).
In a written reply to the Dewan Negara yesterday, the Communications Ministry said it will conduct engagement sessions with stakeholders to obtain views and comprehensive input.
“This approach aims to ensure that the government gains a holistic understanding of appropriate and effective regulatory methods to address child safety risks within the online gaming ecosystem.
“The ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), continuously monitors harmful online content and takes appropriate action where such content constitutes an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 [Act 588].
“The government has enacted the Online Safety Act 2025 [Act 866], which obliges licenced application service providers, application content service providers and network service providers to regulate harmful content,” it said.
The ministry said MCMC is developing subsidiary regulations and codes under Act 866 focusing on online child protection and age-appropriate content, while also studying age and identity verification for messaging services and social media platforms.
“MCMC’s primary focus is to assess the feasibility of implementing age and identity verification mechanisms for internet messaging services and social media platforms that are already subject to licensing requirements under Act 588 and obligations to be imposed under Act 866.
“Once these aspects are finalised, MCMC will then evaluate the need to extend such obligations to other online service providers, including online gaming platforms.”
The ministry also urged parents to monitor their children’s internet usage to prevent exposure to elements of violence, crime, gambling and virtual rewards that may encourage aggressive behaviour.
“It must be emphasised that devices are not caregivers and devices are not substitutes for parents,” it said.
In October, the media reported that in Johor a six-year-old boy was injured after allegedly being attacked by his nine-year-old brother in an incident believed to be linked to an online game.
Police said investigations found that the older child had been playing Roblox excessively and reportedly amassed about one million points in the game. His younger brother is believed to have accidentally damaged the mobile phone, causing the older boy to lose his progress and points, which angered him. He was believed to have taken a knife found in their home and used it to attack his younger brother.
Previously, the government was considering a ban on online gaming platforms such as Roblox and UMI amid concerns over safety and content that could negatively influence young people.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said his ministry is assessing the need to license at least 10 online games, including Roblox, which he described as unsuitable for children under 16 and has met with Roblox representatives regarding the matter.
Fahmi said the government also plans to ban social media use for children under 16 to curb cross-age cybercrime, protect children from sexual predators and address rising incidents of cyberbullying and other online risks.
Social media platforms are expected to comply with the ban by next year, with registration potentially requiring official identification such as MyKad, passport or MyDigital ID.
Between Jan 1, 2022 and Oct 15 this year, MCMC submitted 1,521 requests to remove harmful child-related content, of which 96% (1,456 items) were successfully taken down by platforms.
