KUALA TERENGGANU: The Pas-led Terengganu government has tabled RM2.015 billion budget allocation for next year.
In tabling the budget, Menteri Besar Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar described it as a balanced budget which reflected the state government’s commitment after it wrested power from Barisan Nasional after the 14th general election on May 9.
The allocation, he said, was higher than the RM1.996 billion budget for 2018 that was approved by the then BN-led state government.
“The 2019 budget has taken into consideration the necessary amenities for the people so that they do not face a shortfall that will affect their livelihood,” he told newsmen at the State Assembly after tabling the State Budget for 2019 at Wisma Darul Iman.
Ahmad Samsuri said he expected new possible investors from countries like France, China, India, Japan and Britain for heavy industries, power generation, oil and gas, and the silica sector.
“We are not rushing to get mega projects as we want to be careful and certain before committing ourselves.
“There are lessons learnt where the previous Barisan Nasional state government was unable to carry out successfully, such large projects,” he said.
On projects like the East Coast Highway 3 (LPT3) and the East Coast Rail Link, he said they were deferred due to obvious economic reasons which the country was facing.
“They have not been shelved but are under negotiations owing to cost over-runs and the like.
“We also do not want to get entangled with projects that will not benefit the state and its people in our desire to meet our objectives,” said the Rhu Rendang state assemblyman.
On royalty, Ahmad Samsuri said Terengganu had directly received nearly RM300 million after GE14 and was expecting another RM500 million by the year’s end.
Earlier when tabling Budget 2019, he said the state expected to collect RM66.93 million from taxes, RM203.53 million from non-tax revenue and a further RM1.745 billion from non-revenue earnings.
Of the RM2.015 billion allocated for management expenditure, RM600 million will be channeled towards the development fund.
This includes RM186.2 million for deferred projects and scheduled payments, and a further RM1.8 million for Kumpulan Wang Bekalan Air.
Ahmad Samsuri said 4.27 per cent, or RM86.025 million, would be allocated towards dependency expenses while the bulk of 95.73 per cent, or RM1.929 billion will be for supply expenditure.
The supply expenditure includes RM285.47 million for emoluments; RM197.1 million for services and supplies; RM24.98 million for assets; RM1.42 billion for handouts and sunken costs; and RM1.16 million for other expenses.