SULTAN Nazrin Shah of Perak has reaffirmed the state's commitment to exploring new avenues for revenue generation while maintaining prudent expenditure practices.
In his address at the opening of the Third Year of the 15th Perak State Legislative Assembly, Sultan Nazrin highlighted the state's achievement of surpassing RM1.3 billion in revenue for 2024, exceeding the target by RM118.5 million compared to 2023.
Notably, Perak has reported a surplus of RM45.6 million in its Consolidated Revenue Account as of December 31, 2024, marking the third consecutive year of surplus.
To bolster state revenue, several initiatives have been implemented, including the strengthening of water resource management enforcement under the Perak Water Resources Enactment 2023 and the introduction of Local Service Charges under the 2023 Hotel Enactment, Bernama cited today.
Additionally, royalties from the mining of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) are anticipated to contribute significantly to state revenue
Sultan Nazrin also announced the launch of the Blue Economy Direction as a strategic approach to sustainably develop marine resources.
This initiative aims to enhance the blue economy sector through the development of key industries, empowerment of science, technology, and innovation, and strengthening of marine conservation management.
In line with the state's vision, the Perak Smart City Blueprint 2040 has been introduced, focusing on urban development that prioritizes residents' needs. Municipalities such as Manjung and Kampar have achieved Smart City Early Adopter status through the 2024 Smart City Rating Awards.
Furthermore, Ipoh is set to host the ASEAN Smart Green Cities Conference in 2025, involving 12 ASEAN cities. The Ministry of Communications and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission have been commended for their support in providing financial allocations to advance smart city development in Perak
Education remains a priority, with 17 programmes implemented to ensure equitable access to quality education for all communities.
The Aspirasi Anak Perak Centre (PASAK) has intensified efforts by launching nine skill enhancement programs, aiming to establish Perak as a corridor for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to produce a competitive workforce.
In 2024, over 6,324 students from Perak benefited from student incentives, with financial assistance provided to those from families earning below RM7,500 per month pursuing higher education domestically and abroad.
Sultan Nazrin also congratulated the Perak contingent for their commendable performance in the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), securing 35 gold, 38 silver, and 56 bronze medals, placing Perak seventh overall—a significant improvement from previous editions.
These initiatives reflect Perak's commitment to sustainable development, economic growth, and the well-being of its people, aligning with the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan. – April 15, 2025
