Jayapura — Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri has urged the Financial Services Authority (OJK) of Papua Province to intensify public education on the dangers of online gambling and illegal online lending, which have become increasingly prevalent and pose serious risks to the social and economic well-being of the community.
The request was conveyed during a meeting between the Governor and officials of OJK Papua in Jayapura on Wednesday. He emphasized the importance of improving financial literacy, particularly among communities in rural and remote areas, to prevent residents from falling victim to harmful and illegal financial practices.
According to the Governor, online gambling not only causes financial losses but also triggers various social problems, including household conflicts, rising crime rates, and declining community productivity.
Therefore, he stressed that OJK plays a strategic role in providing comprehensive and continuous education to the public.
“Education must be carried out massively and directly reach the community. We must ensure that our people are not trapped by online gambling and illegal lending due to a lack of understanding,” the Governor stated.
He also called for strong synergy between the Papua Provincial Government, OJK, banking institutions, and other relevant stakeholders to create a healthy and secure financial system. Such collaboration is expected to strengthen supervision while expanding public access to legitimate financial services.
Meanwhile, the Head of OJK Papua Province reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to fully support the regional government’s efforts through financial literacy and inclusion programs. OJK will continue to conduct outreach, education, and supervision of illegal financial activities to protect the people of Papua from harmful practices.
Through sustained education initiatives, it is hoped that Papuans will become more financially literate, capable of managing their finances wisely, and able to distinguish between legal and illegal financial services, ultimately strengthening the community’s economic resilience.
