A woman plays the augmented reality mobile game ‘Pokemon Go’ by Nintendo in New York July 11, 2016. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 ― As gamers in Malaysia wait anxiously for the release of Pokemon Go, a local preacher claims that the augmented reality mobile game is dangerous and violates Islamic teachings.

Shahrizan Daud at-Turabi told local daily Berita Harian that the game contained betting elements because it rewarded gamers for the capture of the cartoon monsters and said it could cause addiction.

“Pokemon Go endangers the life of a person as there are reports stating that people entered restricted areas just to catch a Pokemon monster,” he was quoted as saying.

In Bosnia, it was reported that a demining group had received information that gamers were going into landmine areas, while in Baltimore, the United States, a driver rammed into a parked police patrol car on Monday while playing the game on his smartphone.

Shahrizan, who described himself on his Facebook page as an inspirational trainer and television programme host, said such actions will affect the development of Muslims.

In Arab, a fatwa was issued to forbid Muslims from playing the game. It claimed that the game preaches polytheism, which is the belief of worshipping more than one God.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, authorities have ordered police officers not to play the game on their smartphones, saying that it could lead to national security issues.

Yesterday, the International Business Times Singapore cited official sources saying that Pokemon Go would be available either this week or next in Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, India and China, as well as in other countries.

Website MMO Server Status also revealed that several Asian countries including Singapore, India, Japan and Indonesia, have been added to the Pokemon Go server list in the last few hours.