JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives Dede Indra Permana Soediro highlighted the dangers of online loans (pinjol) after Bareskrim Polri dismantled two illegal loan networks that ensnared more than 400 victims with losses reaching billions of rupiah.
According to him, the spread of loans, both legal and illegal, is increasingly worrying and cannot be considered as a solution to people's financial problems, actually exacerbating existing problems.
"Pinjol is not a solution. Many think they can solve the problem, but instead enter a deeper circle of debt," said Dede to reporters, Friday, November 21.
The PDIP legislator from the Central Java X electoral district said that the ease of access made people tempted to take loans without understanding the amount of service costs, interest, and penalties imposed.
According to Dede, this actually causes new problems because many borrowers finally take loans from other applications to close their previous debts.
This condition, said Dede, also creates a vortex of digging holes to cover a dangerous hole and often triggers psychological pressure, not only for borrowers, but also for their families.
"The impact can be widespread. That pressure can encourage actions that harm yourself and others," he said.
Dede also highlighted the daily interest practice of 0.3 percent which was applied by a number of loan providers, both legal and illegal. According to him, this small figure actually plunges people into borrowing from different applications.
"The game looks small, but because it is calculated daily and capitalized, the borrower's obligation to swell is not reasonable. Many people end up taking loans from two to three applications to close their first debt, and that makes them fall even more," he said.
Seeing the magnitude of this impact, Dede urged the government, OJK, and law enforcement officials to tighten supervision and take firm action against problematic loan organizers.
He emphasized that strong supervision is the key to protecting the community. Dede also emphasized that there is a need for a study regarding the possibility of freezing the operation of loans in Indonesia.
"In my opinion, it is necessary to study whether the loan operation should be frozen. It is too easy for people to be trapped. Meanwhile, conventional banks have a precautionary system and analyze their ability to pay, borrowing does not have such a protection mechanism," he said.
Dede said the state should not allow the people to continue to become victims. He also ensured that Commission III of the DPR would continue to encourage law enforcement and public education so that people would no longer be entangled in loans.
"The state must be present and protect its people," concluded Dede.
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