Online Gamblers and Radical Groups Barred from Receiving Rice Aid

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government prohibits rice assistance from being given to prospective recipients who engage in online gambling and are part of radical or terrorist groups. The government also requires registered rice retailers to sign a declaration letter.

The policy is related to the distribution of rice assistance to 18.2 million low-income families and SHPH (Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices) rice for market operations. The government has launched both programs to provide economic stimulus and maintain the purchasing power of the community.

The President Director of Perum Bulog, Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, stated on Monday (14/7/2025) that the government prohibits rice assistance from being given to prospective recipients who engage in online gambling and are part of radical or terrorist groups. This policy was decided in a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto.

"Therefore, we hope that each local government will recheck the prospective recipients of rice assistance to determine whether they are involved in online gambling and radical groups. If they are involved, the rice assistance should not be granted," he stated during the Regional Inflation Control Coordination Meeting held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in a hybrid format in Jakarta.

The government prohibits rice aid from being given to prospective recipients who gamble online or are part of radical or terrorist groups.

Previously, the government discovered that there were 571,410 accounts receiving social assistance (bansos) that were indicated to be used for online gambling in 2024. This figure was obtained from an examination of 28.4 million population identification numbers (NIK) of social assistance recipients from the Ministry of Social Affairs compared to 9.7 million NIK from online gambling players in the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK).

Following the discovery, the government will remove citizens found to be involved in online gambling from the list of social assistance recipients. The goal is both prevention and a deterrent for recipients, preventing them from falling into the dangers of online gambling (Kompas, 8/7/2025).

Rizal also stated that the government and Bulog will tighten the distribution and supervision of SPHP rice for market operations. SPHP rice will be distributed through several channels, including traditional or community market traders, red and white village/sub-district cooperatives, Bulog partners, and local government outlets running the Affordable Food Movement program.

To prevent the misappropriation of SPHP rice, SPHP rice retailers must be registered in the Klik SPHP application. This application provides data on the identity of SPHP rice retailers along with the business licenses they possess.

"Thus, the legality of SPHP rice retailers is guaranteed, and the supervision of its distribution becomes easier and more efficient. Retailers are also required to take photos of SPHP rice buyers and upload them to the application," he stated.

In addition, Rizal continued, Bulog also requires retailers of SPHP rice, including traders in traditional or public markets, to sign a statement letter. The statement letter contains the commitment of the retailer or trader to sell SPHP rice at the regulated price.

This means that they are not allowed to sell SPHP rice to consumers at a price above the highest retail price set by the government based on zoning, which is Rp 12,500-Rp 13,500 per kilogram. They are also prohibited from opening the packaging and mixing SPHP rice from Bulog with other rice.

"If they violate the statement letter, they may be fined Rp 2 billion and sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison. The sanctions are based on Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection," he said.

Rizal added that retailers or traders are only allowed to purchase SPHP rice from Bulog a maximum of 2 tons. They may reorder from Bulog if the stock of rice is nearing depletion.

According to data from Bulog, SPHP rice has been distributed to several regions in Indonesia since July 12, 2025. From the target of 1.318 million tons for distribution from July to December 2025, the realization of the distribution as of July 14, 2025, amounted to 214,025 kg.

As of July 14, 2025, the total rice stock held by Bulog amounts to 4.25 million tons. This stock consists of 4.23 million tons of government rice reserves and 14,139 tons of commercial rice.

On July 13, 2025, Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman requested Bulog to tighten the supervision of the distribution of SPHP rice. He urged that the distribution of this rice should not leak or be exploited by irresponsible parties.

"I emphasize that Bulog must be careful in distributing SPHP rice. It should not leak or be exploited by irresponsible parties. I urge strict action against food mafias," said Amran in a press release in Jakarta.

Amran's warning was based on an investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food Task Force of the National Police, which found 212 brands of medium and premium rice. The packaging of various rice brands contained rice that did not meet quality standards and measurements. The rice was indicated to be mixed or blended with lower quality rice.

The Ministry of Agriculture has reported the rice producers to the police. Currently, the case is being handled by the Directorate of Special Economic Crimes of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency. Seven rice-producing companies have been summoned for clarification, four of which are identified by the initials WG, FSTJ, BPR, and SUL/JG.

Police have summoned seven rice producing companies and five of them have been questioned or clarified.

The Deputy Director of Special Crimes at the National Police, Commissioner Zain Dwi Nugroho, who is also the Deputy Head of the Food Task Force at the National Police, stated that the police have received a report from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the findings. The police have also summoned seven rice-producing companies, five of which have been examined or clarified.

"During the examination, we prioritized the principle of caution. We must ensure that these companies do not withhold the distribution of medium and premium rice, as this could potentially lead to a shortage of rice in the community. This is considering that these companies are large rice producers," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of Price Stabilization and Supply of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Maino Dwi Hartono, stated that the price of medium rice in 340 regencies/cities in Indonesia is above 5 percent of the HET. The highest price is in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, reaching Rp 45,000 per kg or 233.33 percent above the HET of Rp 13,500 per kg.

The price of premium rice that has increased by more than 5 percent from the HET occurred in 202 regencies/cities. The highest price is in the Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi, at Rp 19,000 per kg, which is 27.52 percent above the HET of Rp 14,900 per kg.

"We will continue to intervene in the prices, especially through the distribution of SPHP rice to market traders, Bulog partners, red and white village/urban cooperatives, and the affordable food movement organized by several local governments," he said.