Govt borrows Rp 600 b from education budget for SEA Games

The government has lent Rp 600 billion (US$66 million) from the education budget to meet the requested Rp 2 trillion in funding to organize the Southeast Asian Games in the country next year.

“So far, we already have Rp 350 billion from the 2010 State Budget, Rp 500 billion in an indicative limit from the 2010 State Budget and Rp 600 billion in lending from the education budget,” Youth and Sports Minister Andi A. Mallarangeng said Thursday after attending the sports event’s meeting at the Vice President's office in Jakarta as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Andi said he would look for other sources to fulfill the requested budget. However, he also hoped for sponsorship from private sectors. “I have not counted how much we need. But I’m sure we will get sponsor,” he added.

In response to the use of the education budget, presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat said the borrowed funding would surely be refunded. “We need to lend the education budget to build sports infrastructure for the event, but we will return it,” he said.

The 26th SEA Games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang of South Sumatra, in November next year.