SEREMBAN – The Negri Sembilan government today presented its 2023 budget amounting to RM550 million with an estimated revenue of RM450 million and a development budget of RM130 million.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun when presenting the budget said it included allocations for the social development, agriculture, infrastructure, spirituality, administration, and tourism sectors.
“The proposed Budget 2023 is a deficit budget of RM100 million. Even though it is the third year of presenting a budget in deficit, it was done in a targeted manner and is still within the capacity of the state’s cash reserves.
“This deficit budget is also an intervention by the state government in stimulating the domestic economy based on the developed input-output model,” he said when presenting the budget at the fourth conference (budget) of the fifth term of the 14th state legislative assembly.
He said tax revenue was expected to contribute as much as RM159.84 million (35.52%) while non-tax revenue was estimated at RM227.96 million (50.66%), and non-revenue receipts are at RM62.20 million (13.82%).
Aminuddin, who is also Port Dickson MP, said the state’s revenue collection has increased with the highest recorded in 2019 amounting to RM556.44 million while investment inflows exceeded RM5 billion every year from 2019 to 2021.
In addition, he said through the 2023 budget, 64 initiatives comprising 22 new initiatives and 42 existing initiatives have been allocated a total of RM107 million, including RM9.05 million for the Food Supply Guarantee and RM15.7 million for the Ekonomi Rakyat scheme.
“The education sector is allocated RM18.68 million, welfare maintains seven initiatives (RM2.74 million), community empowerment (RM36.68 million), and youth and women (RM6.2 million),” the menteri besar said.
In the meantime, the state government also announced special financial assistance of one-and-a-half months’ salary or a minimum of RM2,500 for approximately 5,599 civil servants in the state – which will be paid in early January and the first week of April next year.
Aminuddin said this was to appreciate the services provided by civil servants in improving government administration and their commitment to shouldering their respective responsibilities.
“We faced a difficult year earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even when faced with the risk of infection, civil servants remained steadfast in fulfilling their trust to ensure the service achievement continues for the sake of the people’s well-being.
“On this occasion I am pleased to announce that the collection of state revenue up to noon yesterday amounted to RM444 million or 102.78%, which is more than the RM100 million collection for the same period last year. This is a great and proud achievement, thanks to everyone,” he said.
Earlier, the assembly conference also recorded congratulations to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as prime minister.
The Negeri Sembilan assembly conference starts today until December 1, and will continue on Tuesday. – Bernama, November 25, 2022
