Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Tabalong Smart Credit, the priority program of Regent of Tabalong, South Kalimantan, H Muhammad Noor Rifani in the form of interest-free loan, won an award at the Pemimpin Daerah Award 2025 (2025 Regional Head Award) event.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian handed over the award to Regent Muhammad Noor Rifani in Jakarta, as an appreciation by the central government to regional head deemed to have made a real contribution to the development.
"This award manifests the central government attention to the Tabalong Smart Credit program as a strategy to improve community's welfare," said the Regent here on Saturday.
Tabalong Smart Credit is an interest-free, collateral-free, and administration fee-free loan program that is considered to have a significant impact on improving the economy of people in the Bumi Saraba Kawa (Tabalong's nickname).Tabalong Regent received the award in the category of Regional Economic Development.
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As of August 19, 2025 the disbursment of the fund had reached Rp563.5 million or 32.77 percent, with 405 beneficiaries. The beneficiaries covered the sub-districts of Tanjung, Muara Uya, Kelua, and Haruai, with Non Performing Loan (NPL) status of zero percent, meaning no bad debts.
In his remarks, Minister Tito emphasized that the award was expected to motivate regional heads to continue making various development innovations and improving the quality of public services.
"We witness one form of reward being given. Initiatives like this are very beneficial in creating climate where regional heads compete to achieve and use their authority for the interest of their community," said Tito.
The Pemimpin Daerah Award 2025 jury consisted of Head of Special Investigation Development Control Agency Aries Mar Sudiyanto, Director General of Regional Autonomy of the Home Affairs Ministry Akmal Malik.
Also former Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Abdullah Azwar Anas, public policy observer Trubus Rahardiansah from Trisakti University, and journalist and politician Aiman Witjaksono.
In addition to Regent of Tabalong, 18 other regional figures received the same prestigious award.
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