Amanah urges Roblox ban after Batu Pahat child slashing case

A recent incident where a nine-year-old boy allegedly slashed his younger brother’s neck after losing points in Roblox has spurred Johor Amanah’s call for Putrajaya to consider banning children from the online game.

Johor Amanah secretary Idris Jiat urged the government to act firmly and decisively in addressing any form of digital entertainment or online games that contain negative elements such as violence, identity impersonation, sexual content, or child exploitation.

The call, he said, comes amid growing public concerns over the content and interactions on Roblox, which he claimed has become “increasingly uncontrolled” and potentially harmful to children’s morals and social development.

“Children are the nation’s future assets. Therefore, every form of entertainment or digital platform that could threaten their morals, safety, and mental development must be reviewed and strictly controlled,” Idris said in a statement today.

He added that the government must also ensure that digital protection policies for children are implemented seriously, including introducing clear guidelines and age restrictions on any form of games or interactive platforms that are openly accessible.

He noted that the MCMC should also step up monitoring of cybercrime activities involving children and teenagers in cyberspace, including cases of exploitation, cyberbullying, and exposure to immoral content.

“The responsibility to shape a morally upright and well-mannered generation does not rest solely on parents, but also on the government, enforcement agencies, and digital platform providers,” he stressed.

Roblox, a free-to-play online gaming platform popular among children, allows users to create, share and play games built by other players. Launched in 2006, it has grown into one of the world’s most popular gaming hubs, with over 70 million daily active users - many of them children.

Unlike traditional video games, Roblox functions more like a digital sandbox. Players can build virtual worlds, design their own games, and interact with others in real time through chat features.

Police investigation

On Oct 29, Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said police are investigating an incident in Batu Pahat involving a nine-year-old boy who allegedly attacked his six-year-old brother after experiencing hallucinations believed to be linked to the Roblox game.

The incident, which occurred on Oct 27, saw the younger boy suffering slash wounds on his neck and stab injuries on his body.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the nine-year-old boy, who is the victim’s elder brother, had been playing Roblox excessively and had collected about a million points in the game.

“The boy’s mobile phone was damaged by his younger brother, which allegedly caused the loss of those points. Following that, the boy is believed to have suffered hallucinations related to the game and claimed he was told to harm his family,” The Star quoted Rahaman as saying.

The younger boy is understood to be in stable condition after receiving treatment at the Batu Pahat Hospital.

Police also recorded a statement from his elder brother on Oct 29, with Batu Pahat district police chief Shahrulanuar Mushaddat Abdullah Sani reportedly saying that the boy’s statement could change the course of the investigation.

The children’s parents, both aged 41, had allegedly misled investigators in the initial stages of the probe, with inconsistencies in their statements leading police to suspect an attempt to conceal the elder sibling’s alleged role in the incident.

The parents are being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous hurt, and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 for negligence.

Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the ministry is assessing the need to license at least 10 types of online games, including Roblox, which is deemed unsuitable for children under the age of 16.

He added that the ministry had met Roblox representatives, who Fahmi said were “quite anxious” following the Batu Pahat attack.

The ministry, through MCMC, is also reviewing the best and fastest mechanism to regulate online video games amid growing concerns over user safety, especially among children.

COMMENT | Violence prevention: Look beyond simplistic solutions

Meta warns social media ban may push minors to riskier platforms

Teen in fatal school stabbing to face murder charge tomorrow

LFL pans 'knee-jerk' responses to school violence

Smartphone ban on the cards for those under 16, says Anwar

Bandar Utama murder: 'My daughter was stabbed 200 times'

Selangor cops cite video games in school stabbing probe