number of ministers are split in their views on a proposal to include individuals with debts due to a gambling disorder on the list of people eligible for social assistance.
The proposal to disburse social assistance through Family Hope Program (PKH) was first floated last week by Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy, following several incidents of self-destruction and crimes linked to online gambling.
“[Online gambling] makes people poor. This becomes our responsibility,” Muhadjir said, adding that people with gambling disorder could also get counseling from the Social Affairs Ministry.
The senior minister said he proposed the idea when the government was discussing a plan to establish an interministerial task force to tackle online gambling, which has become a national concern.
His proposal has stirred debate among other ministers and the general public, and Muhadjir was quick to clarify on Monday that family members would be eligible for the social aid, not those battling gambling disorder.
“It’s clear that law should be enforced against those engaging in online gambling because it is a crime. When talking about [potential] aid recipients [last week], I was referring to the family members of players, such as their children or spouses,” Muhadjir said, as quoted by Antara.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.
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