Golongan ekstremis sasar kanak-kanak dalam permainan online

In Malaysia, children as young as 12 have been recruited by extremist groups through online games such as Roblox, according to former senior police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. Although the influence of ISIS is seen as weakening, extremist groups approach children on gaming platforms to form friendships and then invite them into closed groups where they are provided with resources and taught to carry out violent attacks, Pitchay explained during a Maulidur Rasul commemoration ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

Recently, children aged 12, 14, and 15 were apprehended. They were initially recruited through games like Roblox and later joined other groups. In these settings, they were taught to carry out extremist attacks, Pitchay reported to the Malaysia Gazette. He made this statement at a convention in Kuala Lumpur, drawing attention to an incident in 2024 involving a teenager who attacked a police station with a knife and stole a firearm.

The 20-year-old suspect was believed to be influenced by Salafi Jihadi ideology, Pitchay noted. Based on his experience managing extremist activities since 1995, Pitchay pointed out that individuals involved in terrorism often deny mainstream religious practices and interpret the Quran and Hadith according to their own understanding.

He advised the public to be cautious of the spread of extremist ideas originating from outside the country and to strengthen Islamic knowledge to counteract the spread of extremist ideologies.