Only costly projects not yet implemented: No State budget review
Published on: Friday, April 17, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The State 2015 Budget development expenditure will not be reviewed in line with the budget's halatuju to maintain the State's development momentum and prosperity of the people.However, all development projects – especially those involving huge cost but yet to be implemented – would have to be reviewed in view of the world oil price plunge."The move is to enable the Government to rearrange the implementation of the development projects in line with the State's financial ability," Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said in his winding up speech for the Finance Ministry on the last day of the State Assembly sitting, Thursday.
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"I call on all relevant quarters to give cooperation and commitment in the implementation of these prudent steps as well as ensuring every allocation spent will be value for money as well as really reaching and benefiting the people with maximum impact," he said.Musa said the State Government would tighten existing State revenue collection processes and explore new revenue resources.The Government had already set up a State Revenue Collection Committee to better manage the process while a State Sales Tax Committee had also been formed as well as a State Sales Tax Administrative Unit set up to strengthen monitoring and enforcement of the state's sales tax system, he said. He said the State Government would also negotiate with the Federal Government for a review of the allocation to the State.
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Musa who is State Finance Minister, said the prudent spending measures were being taken in line with the Federal Government's move in view of the fuel price drop.As for the proposal that the State Government also hand out cash assistance of RM500 each to eligible recipients in Sabah called Bantuan Rakyat 1 Sabah or BR1S by Balung Assemblyman, Datuk Syed Abbas Syed Ali, he said it was not possible due to the State's limited financial resources.
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"If the suggestion is taken up it will involve a very big sum of RM178 million as estimated by the proposer."With the financial limitation faced by the State Government, priority will be on development and provision of facilities and basic amenities beneficial for the community across the board."If BR1S is implemented it will affect other development projects that have to be reviewed and this includes the special allocation for government assemblymen, which might need to be reduced," he said. "Therefore, he said the assistance given by the Federal Government, which has stronger finance, through the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) was good enough since it is also enjoyed by the people in the State.On security, he said State Government was committed to work hand-in-hand with the Federal Government to ensure security in the State remained at satisfactory level, especially at the East Coast to prevent a recurrence of kidnapping incidents. Met after the State Assembly sitting was adjourned sine die at 3.19pm, Musa reiterated the State Government would not be reviewing the State 2015 Budget since the projected revenue from oil could not be ascertained."Who knows, the oil price may pick up in a few weeks time from now? So we cannot really determine it (adjustments). Only at the end of the year we can really calculate it," he said.Musa also expressed gratitude to the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin for delivering the State Government's policy last Thursday for which the motion of thanks to the speech had been debated for three days since Monday."I am satisfied that the sitting had proceeded properly and I wish to express my appreciation to both the government and opposition house members for giving their ideas and constructive views to the State Government," he said.He said that during the sitting the State Government managed to provide a clearer picture on many issues namely the oil and gas, GST and land that had often been raised by the opposition.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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