Former Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has defended the state budgets that he had tabled during his six-year tenure.

 

He said despite tabling supplementary budgets, the budgets that he tabled had always been balanced, and the auditor-general’s reports are proof of this.

 

This was possible because prior to tabling the supplementary budgets, the state government was enjoying a surplus where its revenue exceeded its expenses.

 

“I do not want to comment on the government of the day’s decision to table a deficit budget, but I felt the need to explain the allegations that the government’s previous balanced budgets had been tainted by subsequent supplementary budgets, ultimately leaving a deficit budget.

 

“I wish to stress that the allegation is completely false and has ill-intentions, as though it is meant to give a negative impression about the state’s fiscal and financial management when I was responsible for it as Menteri Besar of Selangor,” he said in a statement today.

Khalid served as the Selangor menteri besar from 2008 until Sept 22 this year, when he was expelled from his party.

 

He said that according to the Auditor-General’s Report on the state’s accounts, the state’s financial reserves had been growing each year under his leadership despite the supplementary budgets, and despite the growing government expenditure.

 

It was through prudent spending during his administration that made the largesse enjoyed by the state in the 2015 budget possible, he said.

 

Khalid’s successor Mohd Azmin Ali had table a RM2.4 billion budget yesterday - the largest of any Pakatan state. However, it is also Selangor’s first deficit budget since it took over in 2008.

 Anti-Kidex group thanks Azmin

Meanwhile, the NGO Say No to Kidex (SNTK) thanked Azmin for engaging with it and working to “fine-tune” the conditions that the proposed highway needs to meet before the project can be considered.

 

Among others, the three conditions Azmin ( left ) announced in his budget proposal required the concessionaire to conduct independent traffic, environmental and social impact assessment studies that must show clear and substantial benefits for road users, as well as those living near the highway.

 

“SNTK would like to thank our menteri besar for listening to us and giving us the opportunity to help fine-tune the conditions, which was more than what former Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim ever did.

 

“We are also grateful the menteri besar has required full and independent studies, which the federal government has so far failed to do,” said SNTK committee member Mak Khuin Weng.

 

However, he said the NGO would remain steadfast in opposing the project on “numerous technical reasons”, claiming that it is misguided and badly designed as it had said in its report to the Works Ministry.

 

Another group congratulating Azmin was the Centre to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4), for his proposal to set up an Integrity office and to pave way for an ombudsman for good governance.

 

“This bold and innovative move is indeed a positive development on the road towards good governance.

 

“It’s a welcome reprieve to hear him pledge to work in partnership with non-governmental organisations, a sharp contrast from the ongoing assault on freedom of expression under the Sedition Act,” said C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel.

 

She also proposed several principles for the office and the ombudsman to follow after the two are set up.

 

According to Azmin in his budget proposal, the ombudsman is to “investigate public complaints, in line with the government policy of having an administration that is clean and had integrity”.

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