“We are presenting this budget which encompasses important fields with focus being placed on the civil service and private sector.
“Announcements made in the budget were based on feedback and response from the public during pre-budget discussions with the public,” he told reporters after tabling the budget at the state assembly sitting here yesterday.
Although he presented a RM29.91 million deficit budget, Zambry stressed that Perak was not in a state of bankruptcy as it still has cash reserves amounting to RM753.6 million as of Nov 23.
“This makes Perak one of the states with the highest reserve funds and can manage the state’s expenditure for up to one year.
“When a deficit budget is presented, there is always talk that the state will suffer in terms of revenue but we hope to offset the deficit if we can increase revenue next year,” he said.
Zambry presented a RM29.91 million deficit budget which is 3.59 percent of the anticipated revenue of RM832.42 million.
The state also proposed a sum of RM589.33 million for operating expenditure while RM273 million will be allocated for development projects.
A sum of RM65 million had been allocated for infrastructure projects including construction of roads, bridges and buildings by Public Works Department (PWD) while RM58 million would be utilised for rural and community services projects and programmes which among others are for rural roads, religious needs and human capital development.
An allocation of RM16 million had been proposed for Drainage and Irrigation Department of which a major portion of would be used for flood migitation projects and rehabilitation of rivers.
Zambry noted more poor people and disabled would received financial aid as RM18.5 million had been allocated compared to RM16.5 million previously.
A new allocation had been proposed as the hard core poor and those unfortunate had been allocated a sum of RM4 million for food supply every month and RM1 million would be given as financial aid during festive season.
“Some 4,000 people would benefit for the allocation which is part of the state government’s efforts to reduce poverty,” he said.
