Ministry, MUI to discuss fatwa on PUBG

Jakarta, NU Online
The ministry of communication and informatics (Kominfo) has yet taken a decision in light of the plan issued by Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) about haram fatwa (edict) on the online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds alias PUBG, tempo.co reported.

The ministry’s director general for applications and informatics, Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan said that the ministry will canvass the matter with MUI today, March 26.

“We have communicated (with MUI). So I’ve been invited to listen to their opinions in MUI,” said Semuel when met at the ministry office on Jalan Merdeka Barat, Monday, March 25.

To date, Semuel noted that his side has yet obtained the study result conducted by MUI concerning the council’s strong reason to issue the edict.

The shooting game PUBG, which is popular among Indonesians, has been in the public limelight in the wake of the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15. The game requires its players to survive by fighting against other players using weapons.

Semuel reiterated that the ministry has actually filtered games available in Indonesia based on the age limit. Each game that can be accessed via gadgets has an age limit of 3, 7, 13, and 18 years old. PUBG, he noted, is a shooting game that can be accessed by users of above 18 years old.

According to Semuel, the ministry did not have the authority to assess the content of PUBG, but it is on the hand of related institutions. “We are only expert in shutting down or opening access [of apps],” he said.

Therefore, he continued, Kominfo will consider time restriction in playing PUBG that can be actualized by the provider. “That’s an interesting input,” Semuel said. (Masdar)