Magelang Mosque Caretaker Wins Rp 1 Billion Lottery

No one could have predicted his fate. Such was the case for Sayat, a 72-year-old mosque caretaker and becak driver from Magelang. In 1990, he unexpectedly won Rp 1 billion in a government-run lottery under President Soeharto’s administration called Sumbangan Dermawan Sosial Berhadiah (SDSB). The SDSB winners were announced on government radio on Wednesday, 9 May 1990. Sayat’s ticket number was drawn as the winner, entitling him to Rp 1 billion. “Eight, four, nine, three, seven… and finally nine!” announced the broadcaster, as reported by Waspada newspaper on 17 May 1990. Pelita newspaper reported on 22 May 1990 that Sayat was among the winners of the 14th SDSB lottery period. Rp 1 billion was an enormous sum in 1990. At the time, luxury homes in Jakarta’s Pondok Indah area were priced around Rp 80 million per unit. This meant Sayat could have purchased 12 such properties outright with his winnings. Gold prices in 1990 were approximately Rp 20,000 per gram, meaning Rp 1 billion could buy 50 kilograms. Adjusted for today’s gold price of Rp 1.9 million per gram, his winnings would be worth approximately Rp 96 billion. According to Angkatan Bersenjata newspaper on 22 May 1990, Sayat and his wife collected the prize in Jakarta. He reportedly fainted upon receiving the sum, having never imagined winning such an amount. Sayat had clear plans for the money. He told the media he intended to buy a house, donate Rp 5 million to street vendors, renovate the mosque he maintained, and save the rest for his descendants. Sayat’s life had always revolved around the mosque, serving as its caretaker and fulfilling his duty as a Muslim. His daily duties included maintaining the mosque’s cleanliness — sweeping the grounds, cleaning prayer mats, and checking water supplies to ensure worshippers had a comfortable environment. Additionally, he worked as a becak driver around his neighbourhood, using the earnings to supplement his income and cover monthly rent. Prior to his current life, Sayat had served in the military, retiring with the rank of First Sergeant. During his service, he fought in Magelang. To change his fortunes, he had tried various methods, including purchasing SDSB tickets with money he had saved. The SDSB lottery was a government-run initiative launched on 1 January 1989. Citizens could purchase tickets for as little as Rp 1,000 up to tens of thousands. Proceeds were used by the government for development projects, with multi-billion rupiah prizes awarded based on ticket numbers. The SDSB was effectively a legalised form of gambling under the Ministry of Social Affairs. Today, all forms of gambling are banned by the government.