ALOR SETAR, Nov 17 – The Kedah government today tabled the budget of RM794,107,227 as the state’s operating expenditure next year. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said of the total, RM261,036,085 were meant for development expenditure, which includes RM184 million allocation for the Development Provident Fund to implement development projects.
The state government also estimated revenue of RM721,653,021, with tax collection making the biggest contribution at RM441,571,545 or 61.9 per cent. Mukhriz said taking into account the projection of revenue and government’s expenditure, the state government estimated a deficit of RM72,482,482 in the 2016 budget compared to RM68,460,960 in 2015.
The menteri besar also underlined five main thrusts for state development in the 2016 budget, namely proper infrastructure for the convenience of the people; development of human capital, social and religion; prospering the people; encouraging economic growth; and strengthening state governance.
“In the 2016 Budget, the state government has not set aside allocation for large-scale physical projects, but instead is focusing on works to upgrade and improve the existing public infrastructure,” he said when tabling the budget at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
Mukhriz said the state government had also agreed to begin the implementation of the project to replace the bridge in Sungai Berok, Kampung Gajah Putih, Sik; the bridge in Jalan Datuk Kumbar in Kota Setar; and the Kuala Pegang bridge in Baling, with an allocation of RM25 million.
For human capital development, he said the state government would continue paying the loan of RM45 million a year for the construction of the permanent campus for Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) in Kuala Ketil and providing management allocation of RM11.5 million to KUIN.
A total of RM2 million had also been set aside to complete the second phase of the Maahad Tahfiz Sains Darul Aman project in Kulim, while planning for the third phase of the project, which would involve upgrading of its physical infrastructure, including its academic block, hostel and administration block, at a cost of RM14 million, he said.
In prospering the people, he said RM6 million had been allocated for the programmes aimed at increasing the income of entrepreneurs and petty traders, including the project to build and upgrade the commercial space in the local authorities’ areas. He said the government will also continue supporting the roles played by the Kedah Entrepreneurs Development Unit by providing the annual allocation of RM1.5 million.
