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Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the Cabinet decision to impose a total ban on arcades for video games yesterday. 5 October 2000

In the last few years, legal and illegal centres for video games have
mushroomed in the country. Many youths have become addicted to these games that take various forms. Some youths gamble.

Just as drug addiction, ecstasy pills and illegal gambling, activities on
video games have become a social problem. Anybody who fights against these things is correct. But, some campaigns are short—a flash in the pan. If these publicity campaigns and actions are sustained, then Malaysian society will be better.

We have problems with video games for many years. The Government has taken measures and the police confiscate machines with or without microchip circuits. Without the circuits, the exhibition of machines is only for publicity. Meanwhile, the operators make big profits and the youths sink into the quagmire. On the one hand, the operators see large profits. On the other hand, the parents do not know what to do.

Since the Government has decided to close down all centres for video games, we would like to know how it intends to enforce the decision and the long-term follow-up. To stop all activities on the games, political leaders, departmental heads and enforcement personnel must have political will, commitment and sincerity. Can we get these?

Although we have relevant laws such as Entertainment (Amendment) Act 1998, we cannot enforce them effectively. It was reported that the
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Lorian Mai said that police and staff
members of local authorities were involved in corruption that enabled many centres for video games to appear.

What have the police, the customs and the local authorities done? If they do their duties, can these centres get out of hand?

Let us look at laws that govern video games and gambling and the
effectiveness of their enforcement. Then, let us amend them to improve their enforcement.