Amid the growing debate on 'Pokemon Go', the latest gaming sensation to hit Brunei, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) is consulting with relevant agencies to prohibit places of worship, cemeteries and historical landmarks from being used as PokeStops and Pokemon Gyms.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs, told media personnel yesterday that his ministry would examine the latest developments in the trend from various aspects.

He also said that the ministry's research into the views of religious authorities outside of Brunei revealed varying opinions and perspectives on the Pokemon Go game.

The minister also advised Muslims to respect places of worship, and not to be swayed from the main objective of visiting religious sites.

"The purpose of going to the mosque is to perform pious acts, recite prayers and to seek blessings and forgiveness from Allah the Almighty, rather than being preoccupied with worldly affairs and things that can cause harm," he said.

He also called on members of the public to restrain their children from falling into negligence and slackness, through playing the game.

"The ministry will conduct further research on the risks of this application and its contents, especially the risks it poses to the Muslim community, from a religious and intellectual angle," he said.

"We hope that the public will curb this obsession to prevent any untoward incidents that could affect the peace and stability of the community.

"We also have to ensure that the people's interests are in accordance with Syariah principles.

"This rationale was based on the sociocultural impact that has already occurred in several countries since the game was introduced," he said, concluding his statements.

Pokemon Go is a conventional 'hide and seek' game, where players are required to find and fight virtual characters in real-life surroundings, detected through an application on their smartphones.

The augmented reality game developed by Niantic Incorporation of Nintendo USA was released in Brunei Darussalam on August 5, and has since received mixed reactions from the public, especially in the social media.

The application was officially released on July 6, and has reached over 30 countries.

Since the game's release in Brunei, social media has been abuzz about a surge in visitors to certain areas, including the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex and the One Billionth Barrel Monument, which are currently functioning as PokeStops and Pokemon Gyms for gamers.

Some Muslim countries have expressed fears that the game is a threat to the Islamic faith, amid concerns over mosques being used by players to catch the Pokemon characters.

Yesterday, the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) issued reminders and guidelines that must be adhered to while playing Pokemon Go, including a prohibition on entering private houses, business premises and government departments.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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