National Audit Dept: Perak did well with its finances

IPOH: The Perak government has received a thumbs-up from the National Audit Department on its financial standing and performance last year.

In the 2016 Auditor-General’s Report, the state was deemed to have managed its finances well, despite seeing a lower consolidated fund.

Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad said in the state’s financial statement for the year ending Dec 31, its consolidated fund dipped by RM1mil from RM952mil in 2015.

“The total revenue collected, however,

increased by RM54.6mil to RM1.01bil from RM957mil in 2015.

“There was also an upward trend in reve- nue collection between 2012 and 2016, with last year’s collection being the highest,” she said, adding that the main contributors to state revenue included quit rent, revenues from sales, royalty and licensing.

“The state collected RM928mil in 2014, RM881mil in 2013 and RM868mil in 2012,” she added.

Madinah said the state’s investments in shares also increased by about RM1.2mil or 1.5% last year.

“Its total public debt has dropped by RM268mil to RM338mil. In 2015, it was RM606mil. There were no outstanding debts owed by the state,” she said.

Madinah said the state’s performance in development projects under the 11th Malaysia Plan was also good.

She said some RM370mil of the RM397mil allocated for the projects had been spent.

“Of the 1,029 planned projects, 745 have been completed, with 83 still ongoing and 201 yet to start,” she said.

Madinah said the state needed to maintain its achievements in financial management.

“It needs to be thrifty with expenses, while not affecting its services and economic development.”

It needs to be thrifty with expenses, while not affecting its services and economic development. Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad