In his 10th year of service in Penang, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng tabled a total budget of RM1.2 billion for 2018, a decrease of RM0.25 billion from the RM1.45 billion allocated under Budget 2017.

Describing it as “Belanjawan Marhaen" (Budget for the Many), Lim said a deficit budget was unavoidable this year, similar to last year’s RM667.1 million deficit budget.

The budget was tabled in the Penang State Legislative Assembly today. This may be the state’s last sitting pending the 14th general election, which will be due in 2018.

This is Lim’s 10th “deficit” budget since Pakatan Harapan took over Penang in 2008.

Lim had previously explained that the deficit would be supported with the state’s accumulated reserves.

Lim said the estimated deficit of the 2018 state budget would be RM748.5 million, compared with RM667 million in 2017.

"Penang has a unique record of presenting an estimated deficit budget every year but we always record a surplus at the end of the year. This is because of our savings through an open tender system and the CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) principle," he said.

'I Love Penang' card

Meanwhile, Lim received the thumbs up from backbenchers when he announced, for the first time since it was launched in 2009, a 30 percent hike for the annual senior citizens' cash award.

The amount will be up from RM100 to RM130, with a total of RM6 million allocated for 2018, he said.

 

 

For the first time in Penang, the state government is issuing an ‘I Love Penang’ card, a smart card for all Penangites.

“The card can be used to access various social amenities and benefits provided by the state government,” said Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general.

He also announced that RM15 million has been allocated for free bus services during peak hours, and he urged Rapid Penang, which is managed by the federal government, to be willing to add on 200 new buses.

“RM275 million has also been allocated to make 82 new badminton courts and four Olympic-sized swimming pools, as sports unite the people,” Lim said.

He also announced that 10 percent of the total budget would be allocated for PO1 (Chief Minister and State Secretariat Offices) while state civil servants have a reason to be overjoyed as an RM2,000 bonus was declared for those with good discipline records, as determined by state secretary Farizan Darus.

“We will be paying the amount by the end of this year, not next year,” he said.

Lim appeared to be taking a dig at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak who, in his Budget 2018 speech last Friday, announced an RM1,500 bonus for civil servants, which will be paid in two stages - RM1,000 in January, and RM500 before the Aidilfitri celebration in May.

Other highlights of Penang's 2018 Budget:

  • RM75 million in STEM teacher;
     
  • RM300 one-off contribution to local vocational students;
     
  • RM2 million for coding classes for an estimated 118,000 students to benefit;
     
  • RM30 million investment for Penang Art District;
     
  • RM4 million of a primary financial initiative for Kotak, an outdoor community street mall for arts and culture;
     
  • RM1 million to upgrade public facilities in the Little India precinct;
     
  • RM3 million for George Town Heritage Refurbishment Fund;
     
  • RM1.1 million for the Hindu Endowment Board;
     
  • RM300 credit (capped at RM50 per visit) into 'I Love Penang' card for households earning RM5,000 and below;
     
  • RM150 credit (capped at RM50 per visit) into 'I Love Penang' card for individuals earning RM2,500 and below;
     
  • RM15 million allocated, and RM300 annually, for working mothers (up to 60 years old) with children between zero to six years old; and,
     
  • One-off business licence waiver for hawkers and small traders for 2018.