Jakarta (ANTARA) - State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi has hinted that social assistance beneficiaries who indulge in online gambling may find themselves struck off the aid recipient list.
He said that the government can track beneficiary data with the help of the integrated and detailed data system.
“It is possible. Our data center is now based by name and address. We can detect the person and their bank account,” the minister informed on Friday.
According to Hadi, the government is utilizing the National Socio-Economic Single Data (SEN) for social assistance distribution.
The integration of data is aimed at ensuring that the beneficiaries of government programs are properly targeted, he explained.
Therefore, the government will continue to monitor social assistance beneficiaries for any misuse of aid for online gambling, he informed.
“If the fund is found to be used for online gambling, we will consider removing the person from the social assistance recipient list,” he added.
He added that President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized the importance of ensuring data integrity so that government programs reach the rightful recipients.
During the data integration process, the government has also discovered that several social assistance recipients are financially stable, but are still receiving aid, he informed.
According to Hadi, the misuse of social assistance for online gambling is a small aspect of the data management effort.
Since the beginning of President Prabowo’s administration, the government has been committed to eradicating online gambling, drug abuse, smuggling, and corrupt practices.
“This is not only an improvement but also an effort in law enforcement against criminal acts of corruption,” he said.
Earlier, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) cross-referenced the identity numbers of social aid recipients in 2024 with individuals listed as online gamblers, finding 571,410 matches.
The 571,410 beneficiaries made 7.5 million gambling transactions worth Rp957 billion (US$57.2 million) in 2024.
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Govt may cut off social aid to recipients found gambling online
July 11, 2025 23:24 GMT+700
Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, issuing a press statement in Jakarta on Friday (July 11, 2025). (ANTARA/Fathur Rochman/rst)
Translator: Fathur Rochman, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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