Banning Pokemon GO at workplace? 'Let's wait and see' - Ali Hamsa

The Malaysian government will adopt a 'wait-and-see' approach on the outcome of the latest phenomenon among Malaysians before issuing a circular prohibiting civil servants to play the augmented reality game, Pokemon GO at workplace.

“It is okay. We wait. Let us see what is the impact,” said Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said when prodded by reporters on the latest fascination of Pokemon GO among Malaysians.

He said this to reporters after delivering his keynote address at the International Civil Service Productivity Conference at Marriott Putrajaya, here today.

Pokemon GO has become a phenomenon in Malaysia since it was made available in the country on August 6.

The online game however has been the centre of controversies. The game has been blamed for several reasons from road accidents to labour room mishap.

Elsewhere around the globe, Pokemon GO players have been spotted at sensitive areas including mortuaries and iconic areas such as the monument in Hiroshima, Japan.

READ: Iranians hunt Pokemon despite ban

READ: Pokemon Go forbidden for Muslims - FT Mufti

In Indonesia, the government has issued a ban on playing the game around the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the director-general of Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) Tan Sri Othman Mustapha said there should be a limit requirement for Pokemon GO to safeguard the religion institutions in the country.