Hundreds Of Social Assistance Recipients In Riau Islands Were Expelled Because Of Judol, Accounts Were Immediately Blocked By The Ministry Of Social Affairs

Residents of Tanjungpinang City, Riau Islands, are waiting in line to collect non-cash food social assistance (BPNT) from the government at the Tanjungpinang Timur District Office, Wednesday (22/10/2025). ANTARA/Ogen

TANJUNGPINANG Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) blocked accounts of 300 recipients of social assistance in the Riau Islands (Kepri) area because it was indicated that they were involved in online gambling activities or judol.

"The blocking was carried out directly by the Ministry of Social Affairs because the accounts of hundreds of beneficiaries were allegedly used for judol transactions," said the Head of the Handling of the Poor of the Riau Islands Social Service (Dinsos), Irwanto, in Tanjungpinang, Antara, Sunday, November 30.

Irwanto explained that the data on 300 blocked aid recipients was obtained from the results of a meeting between the Riau Islands Social Service and the district/city Social Service. The recipients of the aid detected playing judol automatically lost their rights during the next disbursement period because the system immediately blocked the related account.

"But if there is an error in identification or the recipient feels that he is not involved in judol, he can file a rebuttal through the respective district/city Social Service," he said.

Irwanto conveyed that the Riau Islands Social Service Office continues to disseminate information to beneficiaries regarding risks and sanctions for the use of aid for activities that violate ethics, including online gambling. He highlighted that there were beneficiaries who used these funds to play judol rather than meeting basic needs.

This is not just a matter of assistance, but a matter of ethics and habits. Many recipients are entangled in judol due to addiction, not necessity," he said.

Based on data from the Riau Islands Social Service, there are 48,917 families receiving the Family Hope Program (PKH) in seven districts/cities. The details are Bintan Regency 4,432 families, Karimun 6,532 families, Anambas 1,204 families, Lingga 5,132 families, Natuna 1,962 families, Batam City 24,456 families, and Tanjungpinang 5,217 families.

For the Non-Cash Food Assistance Program (BPNT), the number of recipients in Bintan was recorded at 5,814 families, Karimun 8,529 families, Anambas 1,368 families, Lingga 8,915 families, Natuna 3,636 families, Batam 28,870 families, and Tanjungpinang 6,363 families.