Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has tabled the state’s 2018 Budget, which he describes as a budget that “no group will be left out of”.

Next year’s Budget of RM3.12 billion is smaller compared to the RM3.45 billion allocated for the 2017 state budget. 

Meanwhile, Selangor is expected to record a deficit of RM870 million in 2018, which is RM30 million less than this year’s deficit.

"This is a comprehensive and responsible budget where no group is left out. The world is enough for everyone's need but not enough for everyone's greed," said Azmin when tabling the budget at the State Legislative Assembly sitting today.

A total of RM1.46 billion, or 46.8 percent of the total budget, will be allocated for operating expenditure. From this amount, RM444.15 million will be used for emoluments.

Additionally, the budget for development expenditure has been increased by one percent to 53.2 percent, or RM1.66 billion.

Azmin claimed that the 2018 federal budget tabled by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will not resolve the rising cost of living, due to the goods and services tax (GST). 

"GST is the mother of the rising living cost, which has failed to be addressed by the (Najib's) mother of all budgets," he said.

Citing the late Michael Jackson's song, titled "You are not alone", he announced free insurance schemes for 10,000 paddy farmers, who he said had experienced the pressures of various hardships.

The state will also continue funding programmes that benefit house buyers, farmers and low-income groups.

Azmin also announced that the state will continue providing free water for the first 20 cubic metres of usage next year, which will cost RM185.2 million.

Furthermore, the equivalent of three months’ wages, dubbed as “special financial aids”, will be given to Selangor civil servants. Two months’ worth of wages had already been given out earlier during Hari Raya. The next payment will be on Dec 21.

Azmin added that RM72 million will be allocated for a new programme, dubbed "Kasih Ibu Smart Selangor" (KISS), in which a monthly assistance of RM200 for food supplies will be given to mothers in Selangor whose families earned below RM2,000 a month.

Moments before Azmin tabled his fourth consecutive state budget and the last one before the 14th general election, he said that he gave his budget a full score of 100 marks.

He said the budget would address some of the fundamental issues faced by the people. 

Key points from the Selangor 2018 budget: 

  • Total budget: RM3.12 billion;
  • Total revenue: RM2.25 billion; 
  • Total deficit: RM870 million;
  • Operation expenditure: RM1.46 billion, including RM445.15 million for emoluments;
  • Development expenditure: RM1.66 billion;
  • RM746 million for upgrading infrastructure, including upgrading roads and drainage systems; 
  • An increase of RM50 million for the Smart-Sewa scheme, which is a programme that began in 2016 that helps middle-income groups own houses;
  • RM15 million for Smart Selangor First Home Buyers programme, in which zero-rated loans are given to the buyers of “Selangorku Houses” to fulfil their down payments; 
  • RM30 million special funds to replace old lifts in low-cost flats;
  • Waiver for RM8.7 million contribution required to be paid by low and middle-cost flat owners under the Welfare State Flat Reparation Scheme (Ceria);
  • RM20 million for repainting old flats; 
  • RM20 million for Universiti Selangor (Unisel); 
  • Free insurance for 10,000 paddy farmers;
  • The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) will build 136 units of houses for the second generation of Felda settlers;
  • RM44.1 million for Integrated Health Scheme and 149,382 Peduli Sihat cards to be issued;
  • Allocation for schools to be increased to RM24 million, up from RM22 million from 2017. A total of RM6 million and RM10 million will go to Chinese primary schools and religious schools respectively; 
  • City councils to build 15km of bicycle lanes while district councils to build 10km of bicycle lanes;

  • RM114 million for the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to tackle flood issues;

  • RM251.5 million for water supply projects, which includes RM167 million for Labuhan Dagang Water Treatment Plant in Kuala Langat;

  • RM248.7 million to replace 112.24km of water pipe as part of efforts to tackle non-revenue water (NRW) problems;
  • RM180 one-off payment for all 'Kad Peduli Sihat' holder to get the pneumococcus vaccine. Each cardholder is also entitled to primary healthcare treatment of RM700;
  • Work with National Heart Institute (IJN) to provide free treatment for low-income group. PKNS will allocate RM10 million for 500 heart disease patients in Selangor; 
  • Increase for the microcredit loan Indian Entrepreneur Programme to RM3 million from RM1 million this year; 
  • RM48.95 million to eradicate poverty in rural areas, which will be used for upgrading roads and community halls; 
  • Kampungs, new villages, low-cost houses and apartments will be exempted from assessment rates and petty traders will be exempted from trading licence fees. That will cost the state government RM70 million in revenue; and,
  • An application for integrated 'mobile smart parking' which use e-wallet instead of parking coupons as part of the more connected smart cities project (total RM10.6 million for development of digital infrastructure).