PERAK HOPES TO TABLE BALANCED BUDGET
MB says it’ll focus on diversifying revenue sources
PERAK hopes to table a balanced and people-orientated state budget tomorrow.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said among the focus of the budget was the diversification of the state’s revenue sources.
He said the state government would also focus on preparing the state to further receive domestic and foreign investments.
“Based on the momentum of the investments, we need to prepare project sites,” he told the
New Straits Times recently.
Perak recorded investments of RM1.43 billion between January and March, compared with RM249.8 million in the same period last year.
The investments comprised RM849 million in foreign direct investment and domestic investment amounting to RM585.1 million.
However, Faizal said, what was more important was the need to prepare skilled employees.
He said the budget would focus on training schemes, such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training and stimulus programmes.
“In addition, we want to equip Perakians with high-quality skills required for more challenging employment.”
He said the state government would continue to aid those from the lower-income group, such as those with Kad Perak Prihatin.
“We will prepare the programmes to boost their socioeconomic position,” he said.
He said the aim of the state government in providing the aid was not to increase the number of recipients annually, but to reduce their numbers by improving their socio-economic position so that they could be removed from the category.
He said the budget would also address civil servants’ emoluments.
He said their emoluments saw only a slight increase, but said it was nevertheless at an appropriate level.
“I will look into how to increase the allocation for expenditure involving development projects.”
He said the state government was aware of problems faced by the state, such as floods and irrigation for agriculture and other issues, which required its attention in the budget.