Now Jakim urges Muslims to avoid Pokemon Go

Department chief supports Federal Territories' decision against the mobile phone game because of negative impact on children and teenagers.

PETALING JAYA: The head of the federal Islamic affairs department has supported the decision made by the Federal Territories against the Pokemon Go mobile phone game.

Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha said the department supported the view of the Federal Territory Islamic Legal Consultative Committee, who had decided last Friday that Muslims are not allowed to engage in Pokemon Go.

Othman said in a statement on his Facebook page today that “the game has significant negative impact on children and teenagers”.

Federal Territories mufti Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri had said that there were grounds, based on previous fatwa, for Muslims to avoid playing Pokemon Go and Pokemon itself, if the game was pernicious.

Earlier today, the Penang Mufti, Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor, described Pokemon Go as “a game that brings more harm than good”. However the Penang Fatwa Committee would only discuss the matter if there were complaints lodged by the members of the public, he was quoted as saying.

“We have yet to discuss the matter, but I’m aware that the game has harmful consequences as it can lead to crime and breach of privacy. We will wait and see first, and if there were complaints, then we will discuss further action,” he said, according to Star Online.