Kelantan MB tables RM45m deficit budget for 2016

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government tabled its budget for 2016 with a deficit of RM45.61 million compared with a deficit of RM70.69 million in the previous budget.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the state government projected a revenue of RM593.80 million, while the expenditure was estimated at RM639.41 million.

He said the 11.86% rise in revenue in the 2016 budget compared with RM530.83 million in the previous one would tide over the increase in operating expenditure and lower the deficit from RM70.69 million previously.

The budget allocates RM639.41 million for operating expenditure, an increase of RM37.9 million or 6.3% from the previous year, comprising liability payments (24.14 million) and supply expenditure (RM615.27 million).

The state government proposes a RM277.22 million allocation for fiscal 2016 through its revenue, including RM90 million in loans, Ahmad said when tabling Budget 2016 at the State Assembly here yesterday.

“Timber accounts for 29.12% of the state’s revenue in Budget 2016 or the largest contributor at RM172.96 million, an increase of RM58.05 million from the previous budget” he added.

Ahmad said the Kelantan Islamic Affairs Department would be allocated RM6.5 million to carry out dakwah and human capital development courses, while the Kelantan Islamic Foundation Kelantan would get RM78 million and the Public Works Department (RM21.1 million).

The Agriculture Department will get RM2.36 million to commercialise the agricultural sector, the Housing Division of the State Secretariat (RM9 million) to implement the affordable public housing scheme, while RM2.5 million will be allocated for the Entrepreneurial Development Programme, he added.

Ahmad, who is also public administration, economic planning and finance committee chairman, said RM5.5 million would be spent under the Family and women development programme, and RM3.6 million for the tourism and cultural development programme. – Bernama