Abang Johari (second from right) and others posing for a group photo before the press conference. On his left is Misnu.
A reveller at Rainforest World Music Festival on Sunday night is seen playing Pokemon Go.
KUCHING: The popular mobile game Pokemon Go will not be decreed as ‘haram’ for Muslims in Sarawak.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is also the minister-in-charge of Islamic affairs, said Sarawak Islamic authorities would not follow the Islamic authorities in the peninsula to ban the game.
He opined that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) should be the one to decide whether the game was dangerous and deserved to be banned.
“The game was declared haram (in the peninsula) not from the ‘halal’ or ‘haram’ point of view but more towards the game posing a danger to the players,” he told a press conference after chairing a meeting at Sarawak Islamic Council yesterday.
“But from Sarawak’s point of view, since we have MCMC, then it is MCMC who must take action according to the law if the game is ‘memudaratkan’ (can cause danger)’.
Abang Johari reiterated that the matter should be left to the MCMC to handle.
“This has nothing to do with religion. This is digital matter or multimedia, which comes under MCMC.”
When asked if Sarawak Islamic authorities would follow the initiative taken by their counterparts in the peninsula, he said, “No.”
“If this game is haram, then why not other games be haram, too … like Clash of Clans. Pokemon Go, from what I was told, can make people ‘rayap’ (going around without conscious control). Why not we make it more interesting and controlled, such as playing it in the jungle during Rainforest World Music Festival,” he said.
“That will be an interesting game for adventure seekers. Of course, there are pros and cons (in playing these games).”
The Pokemon Go phenomenon is based on a 1990s game but updated with the latest technology that superimposes virtual creatures onto real world locations. It enables players to view and capture them through their smartphones.
This free-to-play application, which sends the world of mobile gaming into mad chases, finally arrived in Malaysia on Saturday. Developed by Niantic Incorporation of Nintendo USA, Pokemon Go is downloadable via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
On yesterday’s meeting, Abang Johari said it was the first meeting for Sarawak Islamic Council (Mais) following the appointment of Datu Misnu Taha as its new president.
He said he was also briefed by agencies under MAIS, including Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim). He also said the meeting touched on the implementation, administration and management of Islamic religious matters in Sarawak.
“Everything is going on well, and I will report back to the chief minister and cabinet. What is important is our approach, which has been prudent and taking into account the plural society that we live.”
He also mentioned that following the meeting, certain technical committees to ensure consistency in implementation of matters, especially those involving state and federal agencies, were formed.
“The approach may not be contemporary, but confined to us. We know better our own people.
Abang Johari said the state was lucky to have good people with good views on inter-religion affairs.
“Of course, we have two deputy chief ministers taking care of religious matters, one on Islam and the other (Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah) on non-Islam. There is a common view to safeguard the peace and harmony in Sarawak.”