"I believe dissemination (about the online gambling issue) must involve clerics and religious leaders," Mahendra stated after an agenda at the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) office here on Tuesday.
The top minister opined that despite being a "real issue" in society, the dangers of online gambling are seldom brought up in religious sermons, with preachers opting to speak about "heaven and hell" instead.
"For the last five years, I have never heard any sermon about online gambling. The preachers always speak about hell but forget to speak about real issues faced by our people," he said.
According to Mahendra, addressing online gambling issues is not only the obligation of the government but must also involve public figures and families.
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Moreover, gambling is a harmful behavior that contradicts the religious and traditional values upheld by the majority of Indonesians and may lead those who engage in it to commit other crimes, such as abuse and robbery, or even suicide.
"Parents, religious figures, teachers, and public figures are obliged to remind the people to avoid gambling," the coordinating minister stated.
The minister highlighted government findings that many residents, including students, have abused their benefits and scholarships for online gambling deposits.
"The Social Affairs Ministry has also identified, through PPATK assistance, over 600 thousand social assistance recipients who have abused their benefits for online gambling," he said.
The findings showed that online gambling is far more pervasive than conventional gambling, as it evolves alongside technological advancements and operates within the online financial transaction ecosystem, Mahendra said.
"Hence, the government will implement strict measures to curb online gambling, targeting both organizers and participants while also promoting public awareness," the coordinating minister stated.
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Translator: Fath Putra Mulya, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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