TEMPO.CO, Malang - The Malang administration of East Java planned to earmark Rp340 million to each sub-district to generate and develop its creative economic potentials.

“The budget is around (Rp340 million), but we still review the figure, whether the city will disburse it in the same amount to each sub-district or set the amount based on their needs. One of the considerations is the population number as in the regulation of village funds,” said Sutiaji, the acting mayor of Malang city, today, November 26.

According to Sutiaji, the budget allocation for the development programs of creative economy and SMEs in each sub-district will commence in early 2019.

The budget, he added, accounted for 2 percent of the Malang Regional Budget that reached Rp2 trillion for 57 subdistricts. The 2-percent budget was set based on the sub-district budget pegged by the central government.

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“However, in my opinion, the figure cannot be equally divided to each sub-district because each of them has different needs,” said Sutiaji, adding the use of the budget would require tight and thorough control.

Sutiaji explained the fund distribution mainly aimed at developing the creative economy and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, he also said the budget could be also used for infrastructure development.

“The portion [of infrastructure development] must be lowered. It is allowed to build anything, but it must focus on the creative economy and SMEs so as to empower the community and generate income.”

ANTARA