From Roblox To Vape The Ban Wagon We Can T Get Off

---

 
LATELY, the Malaysian government seems to ban everything at the first sign of trouble. Whenever a problem crops up, the first reaction is always the same—ban it. It’s the quickest way to look like something is being done, even if it solves nothing.
The latest example is the talk about banning Roblox. One tragic incident involving two children, and suddenly the whole game is on trial. Instead of looking at the real issue like lack of supervision, parental control, and digital awareness, the response is to pull the plug.
It’s the same story every time: when something goes wrong, we reach for the easiest tool, not the most effective one.
And then there’s the recent idea of banning handphones for those under 16. It sounds good on paper. Less screen time, fewer distractions equals more time spent on productive activities like studying and reducing online bullying, at least on paper.
But how would that even work? Who’s going to enforce it? Parents? Teachers? The police? When even adults are glued to their phones, pretending that a blanket ban will suddenly fix youth behaviour feels naïve.
Another example of the government’s obsession with bans is its plan to outlaw e-cigarettes. The Health Ministry now aims to impose a nationwide vape ban by the middle of next year.
They do not work. In states where the ban is already in place, many buy unregistered products online or through the black market. When legal options are cut off, illegal ones thrive. Worse still, it’d be virtually impossible for the government to regulate the products, leaving many even more vulnerable to health risks than before the ban.
This is not to mention the losses in millions of tax revenue as these products thrive in the black market, while denying access to those trying to quit smoking using alternatives like heated tobacco.
Another example is Kedah’s ban on gaming outlets. The state government shut them all down, thinking it would stop gambling. It didn’t. Illegal operators simply filled the gap, often running from the back of phone shops or online.
Those who wanted to gamble still found a way.
This is what happens when policy is driven by optics instead of outcomes. It’s easy to hold a press conference and announce a ban. It’s much harder to sustain proper enforcement, carry out public education, and build credible alternatives. Real change needs long-term effort, not quick headlines.
We’ve seen this cycle again and again. Ban something, declare victory, move on only to face the same issue later, often worse than before. Whether it’s gaming, phones, or vaping, the outcome is the same. People adapt, go underground, or find loopholes.
If the goal is to build a healthier and more responsible society, maybe it’s time to stop banning on a whim and start thinking. Because when every problem looks like something to be banned, the real solutions never stand a chance. 
Thiyagu Munusamy
Seberang Jaya, Penang
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

---