11,000 Social Aid Recipients Removed for Playing Online Gambling

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf, alias Gus Ipul, stated that around 11,000 social aid beneficiaries suspected of misusing the aid for online gambling have been removed. “For 2026, there are more than 11,000 that we have removed in the first quarter, and for the second quarter, there are 75 KPM (beneficiary families) that we have removed,” said Gus Ipul at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (12/5). Gus Ipul noted that the majority of these figures come from the poor and very poor categories, namely Deciles 1 and 2. “In one, two, and indeed many. The findings, well, not many, indeed some findings like that, which are exploited by others. Exploited by others. Some are exploited by others,” he said. Gus Ipul stated that the number has dropped drastically compared to last year’s data, which reached around 600,000. He also expressed thanks to the PPATK, which he said has provided good information, thus helping to improve the social aid recipient data to be more on target. “This year, we will also try to submit the latest data from BPS updates to the PPATK for matching, as well as serving as a correction if there are KPM involved in that field,” he said. He also stated that he will continue to monitor and provide assistance to ensure that social aid is on target and used as intended. Last year, 600,000 social aid recipients indicated to be playing online gambling were removed. “One of them, we coordinated with the PPATK. We found more than 600,000 social aid recipients from the Ministry of Social Affairs suspected of playing online gambling, we removed all 600,000 that were proven and after deepening, it turned out to be true, so we removed the social aid recipients,” said Ipul in Jakarta on Tuesday, 28 October 2025. Gus Ipul stated that for those in society who truly need it, they are given a second chance. He mentioned that the public can contact RT-RW up to the local services to get social aid again. “For those who truly need it, they can do reactivation. By contacting RT, RW, sub-district, or local social services or through the app we provide. So for those who really need it, we give a second chance,” he said.