Heru Budi Opens A Firm Action Option To Social Assistance Recipients Who Play Online Gambling

Acting Governor Of DKI Heru Budi Hartono/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono opened the option to take firm action against residents who receive social assistance (bansos) who are caught playing online gambling.

However, to determine what actions the residents who receive social assistance for online gambling players, Heru Budi admitted that he would first coordinate with the central government.

"There is firm action, but later together with the relevant ministries we will see the range," said Heru at Grand Hyatt, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, July 2.

However, Heru emphasized that the DKI Provincial Government will still educate them not to play online gambling anymore, before taking firm action.

"We give them the opportunity to change behavior. It can't be arbitrary like that too. Together with the police, to what extent do they play gambling, is it big enough," said Heru.

The DKI Provincial Government is asking for data on the identity of online gambling players in Jakarta to the Online Judi Eradication Task Force chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

However, Heru also hopes that the DKI Provincial Government will not find any residents who receive social assistance who play online gambling, so there is no need for firm action to be taken.

"The most important thing is the people who receive social assistance. I have a name by name by addres, the names of KJP recipients, KJMU for example. Hopefully they won't be hit by names playing online gambling," he explained.

Meanwhile, Heru emphasized that he would immediately impose sanctions on DKI Jakarta Provincial Government ASN if anyone was caught playing online gambling. The sanctions are regulated in Government Regulation (PP) Number 94 of 2021 concerning Civil Servant Discipline.

"Yes, if the ASN is clear, the rules already exist, it's just a matter of being treated by the sanctions concerned. Right, we haven't got the names yet," said Heru.