People complain about gambling

TANGERANG: Residents of Tigaraksa, the capital of Tangerang regency, have long complained about the widespread sale of gambling coupons, but the police have done nothing to stamp it out.

"Vendors are no longer shy about openly offering gambling coupons to residents, despite many Islamic boarding schools here. They have even managed to persuade many staff members at the administration to take bets," Suhardi, a local figure, said on Saturday.

He said besides members of the administration, sellers of gambling coupons regularly targeted residents in the villages of Tigaraksa, Sodong, Kutruk and Ciatuy, located close to the administration.

He said the presence of gambling coupon vendors had caused concern among residents because many people, including students, had become addicted to gambling.

He added that this situation had been going on for a long time, even though several local figures and Muslim clerics had repeatedly warned residents not to buy gambling coupons. However, coupon vendors have always had, he said, a knack of persuading residents to buy.

"We hope the police will soon crack down on people selling gambling coupons," he said. --JP