30/10/2025

THURSDAY | OCT 30, 2025

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Cops probe video game factor in stabbing of six-year-old boy

KANGAR: Two Universiti Malaysia Perlis lecturers and a company owner were charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with submitting false documents involving software supply and related services involving RM490,000 four years ago. Anuar Mat Safar, 54, and Shahrul Nizam Yaakob, 45, along with company owner Jonathan Wee, 51, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before judge Datuk Nu’aman Mahmud Zuhudi. They are accused of submitting a document containing false information to a university treasury department assistant accountant with the intent to deceive the department. The offence was allegedly committed at the department in the university’s Chancellery Building between Dec 24, 2020 and Feb 17, 2021, Bernama reported. The document in question was an invoice from Interstream Sdn Bhd, purportedly for the supply, delivery, installation, testing and commissioning of the Blockchain Integrity Platform E-Verification Software and related services. They are being charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24 of the same Act, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code. If convicted, they face up to 20 years’ jail and a minimum fine of five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher. The court set bail at RM10,000 each in one surety for Anuar and Shahrul Nizam while Wee was granted bail of RM15,000. Trio deny submitting RM490,000 false claims Cops tracking down alleged armed robbers SHAH ALAM: Police are tracking down a group of men suspected of involvement in an armed robbery at a restaurant in Sungai Jarom, Kuala Langat on Monday. District police chief Mohd Akmalrizal Radzi said a 48-year-old woman, who owns the restaurant, lodged a report at 7pm claiming that she was robbed by a group of men armed with parang . He said three masked men entered the premises during the incident before fleeing with several pieces of jewellery belonging to the complainant. “They entered the shop while another accomplice waited in a car. They took a gold necklace, as well as two gold bracelets and two gold rings. The complainant was unharmed and the total loss is estimated at RM10,000.” He urged anyone with information on the incident to contact the Kuala Langat district police headquarters at 03-3187 2222. – Bernama

Abdullah Sani said the investigation began after the mother lodged a report on the morning of the incident. She reportedly woke up to find her younger son bleeding from the neck and rushed him to hospital. Meanwhile, experts have warned of blurred reality from immersive games, adding that role-playing games (RPG) that let players live out virtual lives could blur the line between fantasy and reality, especially for young or emotionally vulnerable players. Universiti Teknologi Mara new media specialist Dr Mohamad Razeef Shah Mohamad Rafik said while developers do not set out to promote violence, trouble begins when children play mature games without guidance. “As designers, we focus on gameplay, such as running, shooting and jumping, not on promoting violence. The issue arises when kids are left to interpret it alone.” He explained that RPG are particularly immersive because they reward players for acting out their character’s decisions. “When children play, they

become the character. That is when reality and fiction start to blur,” he said, citing games such as Grand Theft Auto that encourage aggressive or obscene acts. “These games are designed for escapism. But in real life, such behaviour carries consequences.” Razeef said most video games in Malaysia are developed in Western countries, where cultural maturity and parental supervision differ. “A 16-year-old in America is not the same as a 16-year-old here. Western developers design for their audience, but our kids consume that content without context,” he said, adding that Malaysia lacks media literacy education. “When adults play, it is escapism. For those aged under 18, they do not always see the separation. They think what happens in-game could happen in real life.” Al-Sultan Abdullah Hospital psychiatrist Dr Nur Faizah Ali said prolonged exposure to violent games could weaken empathy and impulse control, particularly among teens struggling with mental health issues. “When violence becomes entertainment, the mind could grow desensitised. Players may act impulsively or show less sensitivity to the suffering of others.” She cited a 2023 Malaysian study showing that about 3.5% of adolescents displayed symptoms of internet gaming disorder, driven by impulsivity, excessive screen time and weak family ties. She added that while most youths can play games safely, risks arise when emotional instability, isolation and lack of parental guidance combine. MUAR: An electrician lost his savings of RM118,400 after falling victim to an online fraud syndicate member posing as a police officer. Muar police chief ACP Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said the 53-year-old victim received a call on Oct 1 from an individual claiming to be a police officer from the Kajang district police headquarters. He said the victim was accused of involvement in money laundering and bribery in Sabah, and was instructed to open a new bank account. “The victim was told to register the account with a phone number provided so that it could be ‘monitored’ for investigation purposes. He was also instructed to transfer his money into the account. “When the victim checked the account, the RM118,400 he had deposited had been withdrawn.” Raiz Mukhliz said the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. He urged the public to verify phone numbers and bank accounts through the Semak Mule portal at semakmule.rmp.gov.my. – Bernama Man loses savings in phone scam

o Elder brother of victim may have been enraged over breaking of mobile phone by younger sibling

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

‘instructed’ to harm his family before attacking his brother with a kitchen knife,” he said after attending the state police contingent monthly assembly yesterday. The victim is being treated at the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital. Police are recording his statement to confirm the sequence of events. Ab Rahaman said the parents have been remanded until today to assist investigations under Section 326 of the Penal Code and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. “The children are under the care of the Social Welfare Department. We detained the parents as we believe they were aware of what happened, although investigations are in the early stages,” he said. The case will be referred to the state legal adviser’s office for further action. Earlier, Batu Pahat police chief ACP Shahrulanuar Mushaddat

PETALING JAYA: Johor police have not ruled out that a six-year-old boy, who was seriously injured after being slashed and stabbed in Kampung Parit Nipah Laut, Batu Pahat two days ago, was attacked by his nine-year-old brother under the influence of an online video game. State police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said initial findings suggest that the older sibling allegedly lashed out after his Roblox game was disrupted, losing about one million points when the victim damaged his phone. “The motive is under investigation, but initial evidence points to anger over the loss of Roblox points after the phone was broken. “The elder brother is believed to have suffered hallucinations at night and claimed to have been

INNOVATIVE LEARNING ... A student operating a crane simulator during International Construction Week at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

AGC defends charges against teachers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has defended its decision to charge two teachers for caning a student. In a statement, the AGC said the decision was made after a thorough review of investigation findings, which concluded that there was sufficient basis to show that the teachers had acted beyond the regulations set. It said the move was to ensure the protection and wellbeing of children, and that no one acts beyond the scope of the law. According to the AGC, the charges are not intended to tarnish

According to the statement, the secondary school teachers in Penang are each being charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt to a student. They were charged on Oct 6 at the George Town Magistrate’s Courts Two and Three in Penang. It was earlier reported that the teachers pleaded not guilty to causing hurt to a 15-year-old male student with a cane two years ago. If convicted, the offence carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ jail, a fine, whipping, or any two of the punishments. – Bernama

the teaching profession. “They were made after careful consideration of various factors, including the rights and welfare of the student involved, who is a student with special needs.” The AGC said it recognises the vital role teachers play in educating and shaping the nation’s future generations. “At the same time, the department remains committed to ensuring every action taken is fair, balanced and based on legal principles to protect the interests of all parties, especially children and vulnerable groups.”