Malaysian Duo Elevates BM Through Online Gaming
Who says Bahasa Melayu cannot be elevated to international status, and that we must rely on English to appeal to a global audience?
Two friends have proven otherwise.
Through their company Adik Beradik Kuala Lumpur (ABKL), Muzammil Mudzakir, 36, and Mohd Hilmi Azli, 39, have made history as the creators of a fully Bahasa Melayu online game that now boasts over 100,000 members in Malaysia and abroad, including Brunei, Thailand and Australia.
Officially launched on Oct 14 despite having been available online since 2023, the Adik Beradik Role Play (ABRP) online game showcases a distinct Malaysian identity by using the everyday lives of Malaysians as its backdrop.
EMPOWERING BAHASA MELAYU
According to Muzammil, who is also chief executive officer of ABKL, the ABRP game server is a virtual reality experience rooted in Malaysian identity, developed with the aim of elevating Bahasa Melayu to the global stage through online friendship and community building.
He explained that unlike the many international game servers on the market that use English as their primary medium, ABRP uses Malay in every aspect of the game, including its rules and instructions.
“Most local youths use Malay in their daily lives, so when they play international online games, not all of them can fully understand the language. That’s why we saw this as an opportunity to promote our national language within the gaming world.
“Honestly, we never expected such an overwhelming response. The use of Malay in ABRP not only makes it easier for players to communicate but also brings them closer together, sparking the friendliness that is relevant in Malaysia’s culture,” he told Bernama recently.
Muzammil, who is also an active streamer in the online gaming scene, said the concept they introduced – a role-playing game set against the backdrop of Malaysian life – has even attracted international attention, with some suggesting that ABRP switch to using English.
“However, ABKL chose to continue using the national language, confident that today’s translation technology can overcome communication barriers between players from different countries.
“That decision proved to be the right one as we’re now seeing more players, especially from Indonesia and Brunei, choosing to communicate in Malay while playing on the ABRP server. This clearly shows that our official language has its own appeal on the international stage,” he said.
He added that the use of Bahasa Melayu has not stopped international players, including those from Singapore and Australia, from streaming their gameplay while playing ABRP.
“Even though the game is fully conducted in Malay, players are free to communicate in other languages as long as they follow the rules and maintain courtesy and proper speech,” he explained.
According to him, despite being developed entirely in Malay, ABRP has managed to rank among the top online games in terms of community size, competing alongside major international servers.
“This proves that Bahasa Melayu has the potential to elevate Malaysia’s gaming scene to greater heights,” he said, adding that ABRP is currently the only online game conducted entirely in Malay.
FAMILY, COMMUNITY
Meanwhile, Mohd Hilmi, who is ABKL chief technology officer, said in addition to using the Malay language, ABRP highlights family and community values among Malaysians.
He explained that the name ‘Adik Beradik’ (‘siblings’) was chosen not just as a brand but to reflect Malaysia’s close-knit, multicultural spirit.
“In this game, players become part of a community based on everyday life in Malaysia. They are free to choose any character they wish to play, such as a police officer, farmer and so on, and bring those characters to life within the shared community alongside other players.
“Unlike other games that focus on winning and rewards, ABRP fosters friendship while allowing players to learn about Malaysia’s multicultural society. They can express their creativity by developing their characters freely, without scripts or restrictions, just like in real life,” he explained.
Mohd Hilmi, who is also a computer programmer, said indirectly, this approach creates a friendly and harmonious atmosphere, much like the real-life Malaysian community.
He added that ABRP was an idea he developed together with Muzammil, supported by a team of 25 young Malaysians with expertise in information technology, graphic design, scriptwriting and software development.
He said many streamers also earn income through ABRP by sharing their gameplay on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube.
ABKL currently manages three main servers, Adik Beradik East, Adik Beradik West and Adik Beradik Mobile, to support a Discord community of over 100,000 members.
The massive player base, he said, has made ABRP one of the top-ranked gaming servers in the world.
ICONS
Mohd Hilmi also said that as part of efforts to strengthen the ABRP brand in the online gaming world, the company has appointed former national MotoGP rider Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah and online gaming influencer and personality Nureddy Nursal as their official icons.
He said the involvement of Hafizh and Nureddy, better known as Daddy Hood, was a natural choice as both figures are well-known and have a strong following in the live-streaming community.
Hafizh said his involvement with ABRP was more than just a hobby – it serves as a platform for him to make new friends and relieve work-related stress.
“I’m quite an introvert and don’t have many friends.
“I usually spend my free time playing online games, and with ABRP, it’s a different experience because we play within a real community. Each player has their own character and they’re really good at bringing those characters to life.
“In ABRP, I play a mechanic named Yaka Leng, and personally, it’s something I really enjoy because it allows me to escape from my real-world responsibilities,” said the JDT Racing Team rider.
-- BERNAMA
