Syed Saddiq: Don’t blame online games for terror attacks

PUTRAJAYA: Violent online games such as PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG) should not be blamed for extremist acts, said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

He said extremists would carry out acts of violence with or without exposure to online games.

“Trust me, with or without online games, extremists will carry out violent acts.”

He was asked whether the government would ban online games with violent elements, such as PUBG, following the terror attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, which saw 50 people killed.

Syed Saddiq said online games had nothing to do with the shooting.

“This (the incident) is bigger than that. We have to respect those who died, but don’t be too quick to blame online games.

“Does it mean that we have to ban games with shooting elements? I think the shooting in Christchurch is bigger than that.

“These acts have been happening even before PUBG,” he said after the launch of Asia GT Festival at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

He said acts of terror must be condemned. The shooting in Christchurch, which was livestreamed by the terrorist, was said to have resembled PUBG.

Several cities in India have moved to ban the game after concerns were raised about its ability to influence people to act violently.