Education Ministry bans 'pass-out game', warns action

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has banned the "pass-out game" that is gaining traction in schools with immediate effect, warning that students face action if they get themselves involved.
Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry would not hesitate to act against these students, after videos emerged online showing several students playing the game, which involves one person pressing another person's chest until he or she is rendered unconscious.
Unimpressed by the stunt, Mahdzir said a directive would be issued to all schools nationwide ordering that they ensure the game does not become a culture in their premises.
"This game is not only dangerous, but can also be fatal to the students. Action will be taken against those who perform the challenge," he told a press conference after officiating the Malindo 5 International Seminar, here, today.
The pass-out game, also known as the "skip challenge", requires an enormous amount of pressure to be applied to a person's chest for several seconds before they temporarily lose consciousness, oxygen having been cut off from their brains.
A 25-second video recently went viral, showing two teenagers performing the act on a friend who fainted for several seconds before regaining consciousness, while they – and the person behind the camera – laughed.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya had, on Oct 14, warned that the game was extremely dangerous and could lead to brain death.

He reminded students not to even try the challenge on their friends as it could lead to death in less than five minutes.

"When you apply pressure on the chest, the person can't breath, cutting off oxygen. All it takes is five minutes without oxygen, and your brain will be dead," he had said.