Through their company Adik Beradik Kuala Lumpur (ABKL), friends Muzammil Mudzakir and Mohd Hilmi Azli have created a fully Bahasa Malaysia 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 local identity by using the everyday lives of Malaysians as its backdrop.
According to Muzammil, who is the chief executive officer of ABKL, the ABRP game server is a virtual-reality experience rooted in Malaysian identity, developed with the aim of elevating BM to the global stage through online friendship and community building.
The 36-year-old said unlike the many international game servers 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 English. 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.
Muzammil, who is an active streamer in the online gaming scene, said their concept has attracted international attention, with some suggesting that ABRP switch to using English.
“However, we chose to continue using the national language, confident that today’s translation technology can overcome communication barriers among 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.
Muzammil highlighted that the use of BM has not stopped international players from streaming their ABRP gameplay.
“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 added.
Meanwhile, Hilmi, who is ABKL’s chief technology officer, pointed out that the name “Adik Beradik” highlights family and community values among Malaysians, reflecting our community’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, such as a police officer or farmer, and bring those characters to life within the shared community alongside other players,” the 39-year-old explained.
“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.”
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.
Learn more about Adik Beradik KL via their website.