House Speaker Demands Online Gambling Ban to Protect Children’s Future
Indonesia House Speaker Calls for Immediate Action Against Online Gambling
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JAKARTA, Indonesia – The Speaker of Indonesia’s House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, is demanding immediate and complete action to eradicate online gambling, citing the grave threat it poses to the nation’s children.
Maharani, speaking Monday, emphasized the urgent need to address the issue, stating that online gambling “should not be allowed to develop more widely” as it “threatens the future of children in the country.”
Children at Risk
Maharani stressed that online gambling must be stopped to protect the younger generation from increasing exposure.She cited figures from the Ministry of Communications and Digital, which indicate that approximately 80,000 children under the age of 10 are currently exposed to online gambling through mobile games.
“We all no that due to the easy access through the internet, more and more children are being contacted,” she said. “This is undoubtedly a real threat to our younger generation.”
Maharani highlighted the link between widespread online gambling and derivative criminal acts, including increases in suicide and violence within families.
She referenced a case from late last year in Central Sulawesi, where a man identified only as R, 80, allegedly robbed and murdered his mother to fund his online gambling habit. She also mentioned a separate incident earlier this year, where a 27-year-old man, THP, reportedly committed suicide due to his addiction.
“online gambling has really damaged the joints of national life, including family resilience,” Maharani stated. “Such a phenomenon must stop.”
Komnas HAM, reporting to LPSK, indicated a surge in domestic violence, child abuse, and suicides in recent years, ofen linked to family members’ involvement in online gambling.
“from there, we can see that the impact of online gambling is not only financially, but also socially and psychologically,” Maharani said. “The government must eradicate this online gambling as soon as possible.”
Call for Collaborative Action
Maharani emphasized that tackling online gambling requires a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders and enduring approaches.
“Troubleshooting online gambling, including [its impact on] children and adolescents, requires collaboration between governments, social media platforms, internet service providers and the wider community,” she explained.
Financial Impact and Regulatory Concerns
Maharani, a member of the PDIP party representing Central Java, also addressed a report from the Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK), which revealed that online gambling turnover in Indonesia reached IDR 120 trillion (approximately $7.4 billion USD) last year. She described the report as “surprising” and a matter that “touched on the collective conscience of the country.”
She noted the important increase in online gambling turnover, jumping from IDR 1.2 trillion to IDR 981 trillion in the previous year, and then increasing by more than IDR 200 trillion in just a few months. She believes this threatens the integrity of legal, financial, and social institutions.
“We thus encourage governments to tighten digital rules and literacy as the expansion of online gambling cannot be separated from the complexity of financial technology, which is developing much faster than national regulation and supervision adaptation,” Maharani said.
Education and Prevention
Maharani advocated for incorporating education about the dangers of online gambling into school curriculums and public awareness campaigns.
“Educational curriculum and public movement must include the dangers and social impacts of online gambling,” she said. “There are many ways to do so, so it’s just a moral approach.”
Strengthening financial Oversight
Maharani called for a new financial system with adaptive updates to eliminate online gambling, and for regulations to strengthen supervision of banks, e-wallets, and mobile operators suspected of facilitating online gambling transactions. she suggested administrative sanctions for institutions found to be negligent by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Indonesian banks.
“The state must really exist in overcoming the [online gambling] issue,” Maharani said. “otherwise, we will continue to witness that the trillions of rupees that should have strengthened economic resilience will actually disappear in a dark system that is legally unaffordable.”
She also stressed the importance of targeting not just “midfielders or small actors” but the core organizers of online gambling operations to ensure effective enforcement.
DPR Oversight
Maharani assured that the DPR (People’s Representative Council) will continue to oversee the eradication of online gambling.
“Eradication of online gambling must be our shared commitment to ensure that the next generation of the country is not likely to undermine their future activities,” Maharani concluded.
Online Gambling in Indonesia: A Q&A with House Speaker puan Maharani
This article explores the Indonesian government’s stance on online gambling,as addressed by House Speaker puan Maharani. We’ll break down the issue in a clear, easy-to-understand Q&A format.
What’s the main concern regarding online gambling in Indonesia?
The primary concern, as voiced by House Speaker Puan Maharani, is the threat that online gambling poses to the nation’s children. She has called for immediate and complete action to eradicate it. this focus on protecting the younger generation is central to the government’s position.
Why is online gambling considered a threat to children?
Speaker Maharani points to the increasing exposure of children to online gambling. Figures from the Ministry of Communications and Digital indicate that approximately 80,000 children under the age of 10 are currently exposed to it through mobile games. The ease of access through the internet makes this a growing problem.
What are the links between online gambling and broader societal issues?
widespread online gambling is linked to several derivative criminal acts, including:
Increased suicide rates: The article mentions a case of a 27-year-old man who reportedly committed suicide due to his addiction.
Violence within families: The Speaker referenced a case where a man murdered his mother to fund his online gambling habit.
Domestic violence and child abuse: Komnas HAM (National commission on Human Rights) has reported a surge in these issues, often linked to family members’ involvement in online gambling.
What measures is Speaker maharani advocating for to combat online gambling?
Speaker Maharani is calling for a multi-pronged approach, including:
Immediate and complete eradication: The core demand is to stop online gambling from developing further.
Collaborative action: This involves cooperation between the government, social media platforms, internet service providers, and the wider community.
Financial oversight: The government shoudl tighten digital rules and literacy and strengthen the supervision of banks, e-wallets, and mobile operators.This includes suggesting administrative sanctions for negligent institutions.
* Education and prevention: Incorpor