By Dominic Tham
THE authorities have acted swiftly against Sugarbook, following complaints that the online sugar daddy dating platform has allegedly promoted immoral activities, including prostitution.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has barred access to the platform. Police have also remanded Sugarbook’s founder for seven days to facilitate investigations.
Action against dubious platforms that leads to felony should be lauded. The police have revealed that the platform is being probed in connection with alleged rape and prostitution reports that were lodged in 2019.
But is it a knee-jerk reaction on the part of the regulators to ban access to the platform? If Sugarbook is used to match consenting adults looking for romance, there is no need to ban the platform.
Bans can be counterproductive. Anything that is illicit or restricted only arouses more curiosity. So, instead of limiting access to the banned item, more people will look out for it and this defeats the purpose of the ban.
In Sugarbook’s case, it is said that the platform operator had sent out a message to its users on ways to bypass censors, such as using Virtual Private Network (VPN) before MCMC pulled the plug. How long can the authorities play the whack-a-mole game?
And if MCMC decides to stick with its decision to keep Sugarbook banned, how will it explain why similar platforms like Tinder and Buble are still allowed to operate? Why the double standards?
Don’t get me wrong. Breaking the law such as getting involved in prostitution and pimping is plain wrong. Even morally questionable acts like making a quick buck by offering sex to rich men to pay for tuition fees or branded apparel should not be condoned.
But there are ways to put a stop to, or discourage this than simply banning the online platform. Education or campaigns can go a long way in raising awareness that life is not all about buying luxury or branded goods to impress your peers. We can do more to impress upon the youth, especially tertiary students that selling their body is not okay.
As for tuition fees, the Government should ensure that no student is denied an education on account of being poor. The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans should be accessible to all those qualified and cover not just tuition fees but basic living expenses. This way, students have no excuse to indulge in illegal or morally-questionable activities. – Feb 20, 2021
Dominic Tham is an avid FocusM reader.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Photo credit: Malay Mail
