Maman Imanul Haq, a member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR), made the statement in response to findings from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK), which revealed that at least 571,410 individuals registered as social aid recipients were involved in online gambling activities in 2024.
"We must continue to uphold the principle of justice," Haq said. "Innocent people must not become victims."
He urged the government not to make hasty decisions, noting that other factors, such as the misuse of personal information like identity numbers, could be behind the high number of flagged cases.
If it is found that identity data has been misused by third parties, Haq said, law enforcement must investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also called on the Ministry of Social Affairs, PPATK, and the National Police to work together in reviewing the data and addressing the issue comprehensively.
"If someone is truly involved in online gambling, then their social aid must be cut. The state should not be funding harmful lifestyles," he emphasized.
Haq added that this issue presents an opportunity to improve monitoring systems and strengthen data protection, especially in digital services tied to people’s social and economic well-being.
Better oversight, he said, would help ensure that social aid programs are both effective and accurately targeted.
According to the PPATK, total deposits linked to the 571,410 identity numbers reached Rp957 billion (approximately US$58.7 million), with around 7.5 million transactions recorded.
PPATK’s public relations coordinator, Natsir Kongah, also warned that the actual number of beneficiaries involved in online gambling could be even higher.
The center arrived at its findings by cross-referencing data on 28.4 million individuals listed as 2024 social aid recipients with 9.7 million identity numbers associated with online gambling activity.
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Translator: Tri Meilani Ameliya, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Anton Santoso
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