Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture: Eradication Of Online Gambling Involves Religious Figures

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy when met by reporters at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture Office, Jakarta, Monday (1/7/2024). (ANTARA/Pradanna Putra Tampi)

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said that the eradication of online or online gambling will involve religious figures in order to provide more massive socialization and education to the public.

"This has moved, yesterday I also invited here for religious figures. We will continue in more detail with several institutions, it is possible that later I will have an audience with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), the mosque council, and bishops. I am designing this, if there is time I will really ensure that this prevention process not only blocks gambling offline sites, but also provides awareness to the public to stay away from gambling," Muhadjir said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 1.

He emphasized that related to social assistance to victims of gambling, it will be given to people who suffer losses, both materially, financially, and psychosocially.

"What is clear will be given to those who are harmed, if the definition is the victim, there are those who suffer losses, both materially, financially, and psychosocially, it must receive assistance from the Government, because in the Basic Law, Article 34 paragraph (1) it is that the poor and neglected children are cared for by the state," he explained.

As for gamblers, he emphasized that they would certainly be given punishment in accordance with the Criminal Code (KUHP) or the Information and Electronic Transactions Law (ITE).

The ITE Law Number 11 of 2008 Chapter VII concerning Prohibited Acts, Article 27 paragraph (2) reads, Everyone intentionally and without rights distributes and/or transmits and/or makes accessible Electronic Information and/or Electronic Documents that have gambling content.

"In Article 303 of the Criminal Code and ITE Law Number 11 of 2008 article 27 paragraph (2) it is clear that the sentence is six years in prison and a fine of Rp. 1 billion, so if we look at the quality of the violation, what is clear is against the law. So it is not given social assistance, against the law it is not given social assistance, "he explained.

Previously, the Online Gambling Eradication Task Force (JudiOnline) was ready to carry out an extensive campaign or be able to reach the wider community to increase public awareness about the dangers of gambling.

"We will carry out an extensive public awareness campaign, namely by educating related to the risk of gambling addiction, it can be through formal or non-formal schools," said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs as well as Chairman of the Online Judi Task Force Hadi Tjahjanto.

The campaign will involve various parties, ranging from religious leaders, community leaders, to academics.