GEORGE TOWN: A Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmaker today questioned the state's annual deficit budget, which always seems to end up in a surplus.
Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah (BN-Teluk Bahang) asked if the annual budget really benefits the people.
"The practice to curb spending, more so, the critical spending, to achieve a surplus budget, has affected the people's wellbeing," he said when he took the floor to debate the state's Budget for next year.
Shah Headan also cited examples of five government departments which have not fully utilised their budget for 2015.
He said one of it is the Public Works Department, which has not spent more than RM24 million.
"Failure to use the budget has resulted in faulty traffic lights, as well as poorly-maintained hillslopes.
"Many accidents, including fatalities, have been reported as a result of the faulty lights," he said.
Shah Headan asked if the state has actually studied why the budget was not used, as well as its impact on the people.
Meanwhile, state opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid said the state should come out with a list of why the budget was not used.
"Penangites have every right to know," she added.