Kuching: Bandar Kuching MP, Dr. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, has proposed the introduction of a gaming curfew for minors as part of broader efforts to regulate online gaming and protect children from excessive screen time and gaming addiction.
The proposal is one of seven key measures Dr. Yii outlined following a recent tragedy in Batu Pahat, Johor, linked to online gaming.
He suggested that Malaysia adopt a model similar to South Korea’s former “Shutdown Law,” which restricted minors from accessing online games after midnight.
According to Dr. Yii, such a measure could help reduce gaming addiction, improve children’s sleep patterns, and promote healthier daily routines.
“Restricting access to online games after midnight will help curb gaming addiction, improve sleep habits, and encourage healthier daily routines,” he said.
Dr. Kelvin Yii, who is also Political Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources, said that Malaysia can adapt the model in a balanced way by combining parental controls, age-based limits, and time-based restrictions without completely taking away access to safe and educational games.
Beyond the gaming curfew, Dr. Kelvin Yii outlined other key measures for the Government’s consideration, including:
- There must be a dedicated Act to regulate online gaming platforms, not just social media. The existing legal framework was built for a different era that never anticipated how gaming platforms could become spaces for violent content, gambling, and even grooming. The law must therefore apply content-neutral and platform-neutral rules that focus on the level of harm, not the size of the platform. By doing this, platforms such as Roblox, Discord, and other interactive games will fall within the scope of regulation and be subject to proper safeguards, ensuring that none escape responsibility due to technical loopholes;
- The Government should adopt the use of MyDigital ID or JPN-verified tokens for child-user registration. This system will ensure that every gaming account created by minors is properly verified while maintaining the privacy and security of personal data. The verification process should not expose children’s IC numbers or biometric details to private corporations. Instead, authentication should take place through government-issued digital credentials – giving parents confidence that their children’s identities and data are protected;
- There must be a strict ban or limitation on games that contain graphic violence, gambling-like rewards, or unmoderated chatrooms for users under 18. We cannot normalise aggression or desensitise children to violence under the guise of “virtual experience.” Many of these chatrooms also act as unmonitored spaces where predators and scammers operate. Regulation must therefore extend to in-game environments, not just the surface content of the games;
- Gaming companies must be required to release transparency reports explaining how they store, process, and use Malaysian children’s data. These reports will enhance accountability and allow both the Government and the public to track whether platforms are complying with privacy standards. All such systems should integrate with MyDigital ID tokens, ensuring that sensitive data stays within the jurisdiction and protection of national privacy laws, instead of being stored on offshore servers beyond Malaysia’s control;
- There must be regulated in-game advertising and purchases. This can be done by extending Online Criminal Harms Act-style regulations to gaming platforms. By doing so, it will prevent scams, false promotions, and gambling-like mechanics targeting minors. The Government must require all advertisers and in-game purchase providers to be verified with SSM registration or a valid Malaysian ID, ensuring that only legitimate entities can operate. Unverified or offshore advertisers should be blocked from targeting Malaysian users, cutting off a major channel for exploitation and fraud;
- Parents must be part of the solution. The Government should launch national digital awareness programmes to educate parents about gaming addiction, predatory behaviour, and the use of content moderation tools. No amount of regulation can replace parental engagement. Parents must understand what their children are playing, who they are interacting with, and how to set healthy boundaries. When families, schools, and the Government work together, the results will be far more effective than punitive measures alone.
Dr Kelvin Yii described the incident in Batu Pahat as a “wake-up call” for authorities and parents alike, warning that what began as a form of entertainment has evolved into an ecosystem capable of influencing behaviour, emotions, and values.
“It is our collective duty to ensure that this virtual world does not endanger the real one our children live in,” he said.
He concluded that protecting young Malaysians from the harmful effects of online gaming must be treated as a national priority, stressing that collaboration between the Government, parents, and the gaming industry is essential to build a safer and more digitally literate society.
