Kominfo Appreciates Blocking 15 Online Gambling Platforms, MPR: The State Comes To Enforce The Law

Illustration of the DPR MPR Senayan Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the MPR Hidayat Nur Wahid or HNW assessed that the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo) was right to block 15 online gambling platforms. According to him, the public will be protected from unlawful acts.

"In accordance with the provisions of the 1945 Constitution Article 1 Paragraph 3 states that Indonesia is a state of law. So the state is here to enforce the law," said HNW in a written statement, Wednesday, August 3.

According to him, the state must exist to enforce the law properly, including firmly implementing the prohibition against online gambling.

The prohibition of online gambling, he said, is in line with Article 27 Paragraph (2) of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, in conjunction with Article 45 Paragraph (2) of Law No. 19 of 2016 which expressly and clearly prohibits electronic distribution that has gambling payload.

This prohibition is accompanied by a maximum imprisonment of six years and/or a maximum fine of Rp. 1 billion. In fact, the Police Chief of Criminal Investigation Unit previously issued a telegram numbered ST/2122/X/RES.1.24./2021 which contained orders to all Regional Police Chiefs to eradicate gambling, including online gambling.

"The Communications and Informatics must be firm in bringing it to law for those who are desperate to do so," he said, according to Antara.

In general, he said that the registration of private sector Electronic System Operators (PSE) which is being intensified by Kominfo must also be able to filter and prevent online gambling platforms from registering.

The member of Commission VIII of the DPR RI in charge of religious, children and social affairs also asked the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection and the Ministry of Social Affairs to work together to prevent the rise of online gambling.

"Because this has a huge impact on children and can become a social and religious problem," he said.

Based on studies, gambling causes social ills in the form of a cycle of poverty, immorality and crime that contributes to 10 to 15 percent of domestic violence (KDRT) and other local crimes in Indonesia.

In addition, gambling also easily makes children addicted to negative behavior against the law and destroys household harmony, including their future.

"Therefore, we encourage the relevant ministries to seek the prevention aspect of online gambling," he said.

For example, through a joint decree (SKB) or other instruments with related ministries or institutions, especially Kominfo. The goal is to block online gambling sites.