The Kedah government today tabled a RM796.3 million deficit budget for 2014 with emphasis on projects and programmes that provide big impact and high value.

Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir said of the total, RM560.7 million was allocated for operating and RM235.6 million was for development expenditure.

Of the operating expenditure, RM243.1 million was allocated for emolument, RM322.2 million for grants and fixed expenses, RM130.9 million for services and supply and RM32.2 million for purchase of assets and other expenses.

“The Kedah government forecast revenue of RM731.4 million for 2014. Although the estimate shows increase when compared with the 2013 budget, there is a surplus of RM2.7 million compared with the estimated revenue for 2014,” he said when tabling the budget in the Kedah state assembly in Alor Setar.

The budget’s five core areas are building infrastructure for better comfort to the people, human capital, social and religious development, the  prosperity of the people, promote economic growth and enhance the administration.

Some RM40.7 million was allocated for building, upgrading, maintaining roads and bridges, RM3.3 million for public housing repair and infrastructure, RM10.4 million for flood mitigation, river beautification, drainage and irrigation projects.

Mukhriz said the government allocated RM5 million for the Affordable Homes programme and RM9 million for the Poverty Eradication and Upgrading Living Standard Aid programme.

It also allocated RM10 million for the soft loan scheme for small entrepreneurs and removed hawker licence fees from Jan 1, 2014.

“For newly-weds, the Kedah government plans to provide them with free marriage courses as a gift,” he added.

    

Some RM15 million was allocated for entrepreneurs development and investment promotion programmes.

A Tourism Promotion and Development Board would be set up and RM1.7 million was allocated to upgrade and revive tourism products.

Mukhriz said RM239 million was allocated for payment of emolument to civil servants including the half-month salary bonus to be paid in January 2014.

Agriculture not getting top priority

Agriculture did not get top priority as education took up a big allocation due to the problems inherited from the former PAS government.

“Repayment of loans for the construction of Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) has to be made until 2024. This hardship is borne by the Kedah government and shared by the people.”

The Kedah government plans to increase revenue via collection of entertainment tax, airspace charges, forest fees and heritage fees on travellers.

“The implementation and enforcement of regulations will increase the 2014 revenue to RM731.4 million compared to RM640.5 million in 2013,” he said.

- Bernama