MELAKA – The Perikatan Nasional-led Melaka government today tabled the state’s 2021 budget, worth RM520.86 million with an operating expenditure of RM445.86 million and development expenditure of RM75 million.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the operating expenditure was 14.32% higher compared with RM390 million last year, while the development expenditure increased by 7.14% or RM5 million from 2020.
Sulaiman (BN-Lendu) said out of the total budget of RM445.86 million, some RM177.54 million was allocated for services and supplies (40.69%), RM142.40 million for grants and fixed expenditure (32.63%), RM111.87 million for emoluments (25.64%), RM3.97 million for asset procurement (0.91%), RM0.59 million for other expenditures (0.13%), and RM9.48 million (2.13%) for the purpose of liabilities.
“To ensure service quality to all groups of people up to the grassroots, the state assembly coordinating committee will continue to be strengthened. For 2021, the state government will allocate RM14.50 million,” he said when tabling the budget during the state assembly sitting at Seri Negeri Complex here today.
Sulaiman said the budget for next year was unlike previous budgets as the state was facing huge unprecedented challenges, causing the state government to face uncertainty in revenue.
“I feel the hardship faced by the people in Melaka. As a sign of our concern, all state executive councillors and I have agreed to cut our salaries by 10% for one year from January to December 2021.
“The money will be put into the Melaka state disaster fund to help those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Going forward, in my opinion, the budget should take strategic planning into account, including optimising spending, exploring new sources of revenue, and empowering state government agencies and companies,” he said.
Sulaiman also made a special announcement for civil servants in the state.
“To appreciate the hard work done by employees in the civil service, I am pleased to announce a special financial assistance to all civil servants in Melaka, amounting to a bonus of a half-month salary or a maximum of RM1,000, which will be paid this month,” he said. – Bernama, December 9, 2020
