Sugarbook blocked in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Sugar daddy dating platform Sugarbook has been blocked in Malaysia.

It is understood that the app violates Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or network service.

Earlier, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it would monitor and investigate the Sugarbook app.

MCMC said it would take action against users and platform owners should there be any violation of the law.

It added that the police would also take action if there are elements of prostitution involved.

Parents and guardians are also advised to monitor their children’s Internet activities as well as observe their lifestyle changes that may arouse suspicion.

In a statement on Monday (Feb 15), the MCMC also advised Internet users to exercise caution in providing their personal information when using social media and online applications, especially dating platforms.

It has been reported that an increasing number of public and private university students in this country have been using the application to look for sugar daddies to earn easy money in solving their financial problems, especially during this trying Covid-19 pandemic.

Sugarbook is also said to be the biggest sugar daddy-sugar baby dating service in Asia.

Earlier, National Students Consultative Council president, Muhammad Amir Asyraf Mohd Sabri said the statistics showed that 12,705 tertiary institution students were registered with the Sugarbook application.

He also said that based on records, there has been an increase of over 40 per cent in the registration of new users of the application due to financial pressures arising from the Covid19 situation.