DIY Temporarily Stops Assistance 7,001 PKH Recipients Indicated Online Gambling

Illustration of cash social assistance recipients (ANTARA)

YOGYAKARTA - The Social Service of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) has temporarily suspended the distribution of aid for 7,001 beneficiaries of the Family Hope Program (PKH) which is indicated to be involved in online gambling practices or judol.

Head of the DIY Social Service, Endang Patmintarsih, said that the temporary suspension of the distribution of aid for PKH beneficiaries who were indicated to be involved in judol was carried out based on data from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

"We will temporarily stop the policy of the Ministry of Social Affairs, as a result of data from PPATK, then we will check again for the data," said Endang, quoted by Antara, Monday, November 17.

According to data received by the DIY Social Service, PKH beneficiaries who are indicated to be involved in judol are mostly found in the Gunungkidul Regency area, which is 2,397 beneficiaries.

In addition, there were 1,711 PKH beneficiaries in Bantul Regency, 1,106 beneficiaries in Sleman Regency, 938 beneficiaries in Yogyakarta City, and 849 beneficiaries in Kulon Progo Regency who were indicated to be involved in judol.

Endang said that the district/city level social service would convey information to PKH beneficiaries who were facing temporary suspension of assistance because they were considered indicated to be involved in online gambling.

Since PPATK's findings are only based on population identification number data and account number, he continued, verification will be carried out with the help of PKH assistants in five districts and cities to ensure indications of involvement of PKH beneficiaries in judol practice.

The government also provides opportunities for residents who are included in the list of PKH beneficiaries who are indicated to be involved in judol to submit clarification.

"When there is no explanation, there are no complaints, it means that this is true," said Endang.

Endang said that in many cases the findings indicated the involvement of PKH beneficiaries in the practice of judol, judol actors were not always registered as recipients of social assistance from the government.

"His wife may not be judol, but the judol of her husband or child. It's the same, they use it for gambling. Even though he doesn't admit it, it turns out that it's proven, the judol is his family," he said.

If proven to have used financial assistance from the government for illegal activities such as judol, he said, the beneficiaries were no longer worthy of being beneficiaries of the government's social assistance program.

"When it is used for judol, it means that he does not need help. Time for us, the government helps him gambling," he said.

Endang said that the government distributed social assistance to residents in need so that they could meet basic needs.

"The government wants to help for its basic needs, then empower it again economically," said Endang.