North Sumatra establishes Online Gambling Taskforce and monitors civil servants and employees of regional companies
The provincial government of North Sumatra (Pemprov) has established an Online Gambling Taskforce (Satgas) to strengthen oversight and prevent civil servants from becoming involved in online gambling practices.
The taskforce also monitors civil servants with an employment contract (PPPK) and employees of regional companies (BUMD).
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“The Online Gambling Task Force has now been established. The goal of this task force is to ensure that all civil servants within the provincial government of North Sumatra, including full-time and part-time employees of the PPPK (Public Policy and Accounts) and employees of the BUMD (Bureau of Urban Management and Development), are free from online gambling. I have been appointed head of the task force,” stated Muttaqien Hasrimy, head of the North Sumatra Public Order Bureau (Satpol PP), during a press conference of the North Sumatra Communications and Information Technology Bureau in the Dekranasda lobby of the North Sumatra Governor’s Office.
Muttaqien explained that the task force was established not only to take action but also to strengthen data-based surveillance and interdepartmental coordination. Surveillance and enforcement are carried out through a coordination mechanism with the Center for Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis (PPATK). “The PPATK will soon publish a new update regarding civil servants exposed to online gambling,” he added.
According to him, the Provincial Government of North Sumatra and the PPATK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the handling of civil servants caught gambling online. Through the North Sumatra Civil Service Affairs Office (BKD), data on all civil servants within the Provincial Government of North Sumatra—ranging from civil servants (PNS), full-time and part-time PPPK staff (Regional Employee Personnel Officers), to employees of regional companies (BUMD)—have been provided to the PPATK for investigation.
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“Our authority is limited to monitoring civil servants, not to disclosure. We have submitted the data, and the PPATK is currently conducting an investigation. We have submitted the ASN data for 2025 and will release the data regarding civil servants suspected of online gambling in 2026, in accordance with the agreed schedule,” said Muttaqien.
The establishment of the Online Gambling Taskforce is expected to improve the compliance and integrity of civil servants within the Provincial Government of North Sumatra, while simultaneously strengthening efforts to prevent involvement in online gambling activities through coordinated monitoring, detection, and enforcement mechanisms.
On that occasion, Muttaqien also responded to the implementation of Instruction No. 188.54/3/INST/2026 from the Governor of North Sumatra regarding the supervision and enforcement of the use of e-cigarettes or vapes by civil servants, non-cigarette civil servants, and employees of regional companies (BUMD) within the Provincial Government of North Sumatra.
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According to him, the instruction is still in the follow-up phase because the regulations are still relatively new. The Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), together with the Inspectorate and the Regional Personnel Office (BKD), will hold a coordination meeting to discuss the implementation mechanism and the sanctions to be applied.
“We will continue holding coordination meetings with the Inspectorate and the BKD regarding sanctions and other matters. We, the Satpol PP, stand ready to carry out our duties. If someone is caught, we will take immediate action, provide advice and recommendations, and forward these to the relevant regional government organization (OPD) for guidance and follow-up in accordance with regulations,” said Muttaqien. ***REL
