Poor Due To Gambling In The New Order Era

Porkas, a form of gambling that was very popular and legalized by the Government of Indonesia in the 1980s. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta government, the New Order era (Orba), has legalized gambling. The study is considered the main step for Jakarta to beautify itself. The advantage of gambling allows the power of the power to build many things. From school to hospital.

It may be that gambling brings many benefits, but not a few also consider gambling to bring a lot of harm. Gambling, especially the Hwa Hwee lottery, actually brought Jakarta residents into a puddle of poverty. Their assets run out and go crazy.

The only problem that makes Jakarta fail to beautify itself is the lack of funds. This problem makes anyone who leads Jakarta overwhelmed. The funds that provide the central government are few. While the dream of building Jakarta as a city like a beacon of national civilization is so great.

Everything changed when Ali Sadikin became the new captain of DKI Jakarta from 1966-1977. He made a lot of breakthroughs so that Jakarta would develop and build a lot. He did not want Jakarta's development to continue to depend on funds from the center. Moreover, the funds provided were too small.

The wild idea then came. Ali wants to legalize gambling in Jakarta. The study was chosen because the gambling tax had made the Dutch colonialists make a big profit in Batavia (now: Jakarta). The gap in Dutch-era rules that still apply in Jakarta is used so as not to violate the law.

The results are brilliant. Ali made gambling a money printing machine. Money resulting from legalizing grain gambling. This advantage made him able to beautify Jakarta.

The village is repaired, the roads are starting to be paved, schools are increasing, and health facilities are being repaired as much as possible. However, steps to legalize gambling have also been protested by many parties. Gambling is considered to exacerbate the morale of Jakarta residents. Even though Ali dodged gambling, it was limited to ethnic Chinese. Not Jakarta residents who are predominantly Muslim.

Bang Ali got an idea. Hold (judies) lotto/Hwa Hwee to send neglected children to school. Increase various taxes, such as the Transfer Fee of Motorized Vehicles. Gambling tax levies after the gambling place was ratified, specifically for Chinese.

With the funds obtained, encourage the Jakarta reforestation movement. Also hold a separate location for prostitutes or WTS (Susila Tuna Woman) in Kramat Tungak. Because of all that, Bang Ali was given a stamp as 'Governor of Maksiat' and Mrs. Nani Ali Sadikin was called Masawi Hwa-Hwe. However, Bang Ali continued to move forward undaunted, devoted to the homeland and nation,' Rosihan Anwar's story in the book 'Petite Histoire' Indonesia Volume 3(2009).

The policy of legalizing gambling in Jakarta does bring profits. However, this profit must be paid expensively by the DKI Jakarta government. Many Jakarta residents gossiped about gambling. Those who like gambling are not only ethnic Chinese, but also other ethnic groups.

All because gambling is able to present rich dreams in an easy way. Hwa Hwee lottery gambling, for example. The game requires people to buy coupons by filling them with guess numbers promising wealth. The lottery number will be drawn every night.

Usually the numbers that come out are broadcast via television channels. Those who are able to guess correctly will get a lot of money. Those whose numbers missed try to hold back their anger by repurchasing coupons tomorrow. Hope to make tomorrow more lucky.

This habit makes gamblers addicted. They often give high hopes every day by visiting Hwa Hwee agents scattered in every corner of Jakarta. Every money that is earned is then at stake through Hwa Hwee, instead of improving life.

This condition makes many Jakarta residents fall into a puddle of poverty. Poverty makes gambling perpetuate anything to get gambling money. Sometimes when selling all over the house, then the most extreme commits crimes, such as stealing to be able to gamble.

The view of poverty due to gambling in Jakarta is a daily portrait during legal gambling in the New Order era. The DKI Jakarta government only focuses on profit and success in development. However, on the other hand, many people have to get sap so they become poor, then crazy.

Lotere Hwa Hwee is also very popular in my playing relationships and many of my friends are playing guessing this Hwa Hwee lottery. As for what is quite sad, many of the lower classes have become very gossiped about playing this Hwa Hwee gambling attack. So that many fall into poverty or their families fall apart. Some even get excited.

"Well, indeed our level of community education is still low, easily latah and fooled into gambling so that we can quickly get rich without rational calculations. Because there is a lot of pressure from the community, especially religious circles on the negative impact of the Hwa Hwee lottery, finally Ali Sadikin was forced to stop it," said Firman Lubis in the book Jakarta 1950-1970 (2018).